Rory McIlroy Supports Brooks Koepka for the Ryder Cup But Doesn't Want LIV Golfers on European Team
DUBLIN, Ohio — Brooks Koepka has a Ryder Cup ally—and it’s Rory McIlroy.
Although they would play for competing sides in the Ryder Cup, McIlroy—who has made clear his disdain for LIV Golf, where Koepka is now a member—said Wednesday that he has no problem with the recent PGA Championship winner competing for the U.S. in September.
But he’s not in favor of any players who are part of LIV Golf competing in the Ryder Cup for Europe.
“I certainly think Brooks deserves to be on the United States team," McIlroy said at Muirfield Village Golf Club, where the Memorial Tournament begins Thursday. “I think with how he’s played, I mean, he’s second in the U.S. standings, only played two counting events.
“I don’t know if there’s anyone else on the LIV roster who would make the team on merit and how they’re playing. But Brooks is definitely a guy who deserves I think to be on the U.S. team."
U.S. players were earning limited points in 2022 but Koepka has done the bulk of his damage this year at the Masters, where he tied for second behind Jon Rahm, and in winning the PGA.
To be eligible for the Ryder Cup on the U.S. side, a player must be a member of the PGA of America. That is automatic for members of the PGA Tour, but the LIV players who were members of the Tour may keep their PGA of America membership beyond this year due to a grace period.
It’s a loophole, but it’s one that allows players such as Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Phil Mickelson to earn points.
Because Koepka can only earn points in the majors, there is some doubt as to whether he will be able to maintain his position among the top six automatic qualifiers through the BMW Championship in August. (He is 14th in the Official World Golf Ranking and third in the SI World Golf Rankings, which includes his play in LIV events.)
If he doesn’t, the question then becomes if captain Zach Johnson would bypass a player who has won five majors, played in three Ryder Cups with a 6-5-1 record, and has experience overseas—where the U.S. has not won in 30 years.
The situation is less murky in Europe. You need to be a member of the DP World Tour in order to be eligible for the Ryder Cup, and several LIV Golf players have recently resigned their memberships. Even if they had not, their ability to play in DP World Tour events is nearly impossible given various suspensions associated with LIV Golf.
The best hope for a pick would have been Spain’s Sergio Garcia, the event’s all-time points leader who was a rare bright spot for Europe two years ago at Whistling Straits where he went 3-1. Garcia resigned his membership, he said, because Donald indicated to him there was no chance for him to be on the team.
“I have different feelings about the European team and the other side and sort of how that has all transpired," McIlroy said, without elaborating. “I don’t think any of those guys should be a part of the European team."