Tension between Rory McIlroy and LIV golfers has returned after the Northern Irishman took a cheap shot at Henrik Stenson.
Ian Poulter and other prominent figures in LIV Golf have taken issue with Rory McIlroy after the world No. 2 made fun of former Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson. The Swede was scheduled to captain Europe at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome in September 2022, but he lost that position when he decided to sign up for the Saudi-sponsored LIV Golf Tour in July 2022.
Luke Donald, an Englishman, took Stenson’s place and led the hosts to a decisive 16.5–11.5 victory, guaranteeing the Sam Ryder trophy would stay in Europe.
But now that one of Team Europe’s biggest players, Jon Rahm, has also defected to LIV Golf in an incredible £450 million deal last week, McIlroy has called for a change to the European rules so that LIV golfers can play in the Ryder Cup on behalf of Europe.
Golf performance coach and podcast host Lou Stagner responded to McIlroy’s remarks on Ryder Cup eligibility by writing on X (formerly Twitter): “I wonder if @McIlroyRory also wants to change the rules so Stenson can captain the team?”
“The best thing to happen to the 2023 Euro Ryder Cup team was Henrik going to LIV!” McIlroy wrote in direct response to Stagner.
It should come as no surprise that the joke went viral on social media, and soon after, some British players of League of Legends responded.
Sarcastically, Ian Poulter wrote: “Guys, chill out. This is a fictitious parody account. This is not what Rory McIlroy would say. I assure you, it is a fake. He wouldn’t say that about a teammate because he is a class act.”
With a playing record of 15 wins, 8 losses, and 2 halves, Englishman Poulter is considered a hero of the European Ryder Cup team. But because he also defected to LIV Golf in 2022, he was not eligible for selection in Rome, even though he had participated in seven prior editions of the renowned team matchplay event.
Lee Westwood, another well-known player from Europe who moved to the breakaway league, also responded to McIlroy’s social media jab at Stenson.
While there was not a single LIV golfer on the playing or coaching staff of the 2023 European Ryder Cup team, there was one on the USA squad.
Zach Johnson’s lineup featured five-time major winner Brooks Koepka after the American captain disclosed that Koepka was requested to be a wildcard pick by each and every one of his automatic qualifiers.
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