Rory McIlroy has questioned the ability of Team Europe with a desperate plea now to the board now that Jon Rahm has left the PGA Tour and signed a record deal with LIV Golf
After Jon Rahm agreed to join LIV Golf on Thursday, Rory McIlroy produced a dramatic U-Turn on his stance of LIV players competing in the Ryder Cup.
Rahm’s deal with LIV is a record contract in golf, with upwards of £400 million expected to be heading his way after leaving the PGA Tour. Rahm is one of the best players in the world, a reigning Masters champion, and a key part of Team Europe’s Ryder Cup team.
Earlier this year, McIlroy declared that players in the LIV division should not represent Europe against Team USA in the Ryder Cup. However, McIlroy has since changed his mind, saying, “We need Jon,” and he has since doubled down by making a jab at a few of his former European teammates.
Journalist for BBC Sport Tom English made the following statement regarding McIlroy’s social media metamorphosis: “Rory’s singing a different tune now that it’s Rahm.” I didn’t hear him talking like this about the other people who joined LIV.”
The Northern Irishman then retorted, saying Team Europe “didn’t miss” other former teammates and asserting Rahm is a different situation. After joining LIV, players like Graeme McDowell, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood were unable to compete in the most recent Ryder Cup.
“We didn’t NEED any of the others in Rome, and we didn’t miss them,” McIlroy retorted. At Bethpage, we would undoubtedly miss and need Jon.”
The following Ryder Cup will be held in Bethpage, New York, in 2025. Although McIlroy was content to play without a number of his previous teammates, he is now requesting a modification to make room for Rahm.
Golf is in a state of flux, and McIlroy is standing with Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, and Tiger Woods against LIV in order to safeguard the PGA Tour. The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, which backs LIV, and the PGA and DP World Tours announced in June that they would merge. However, the agreement has a deadline of December 31.
After previously declaring he had no interest in joining LIV and that the money was not an incentive, Rahm also made a complete 180-degree turn. “I find it funny when people associate me with LIV Golf,” Rahm previously stated through Handicap 54. The format has never appealed to me. Additionally, I always enjoy myself when Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia are around during major tournament practice.”
Although McIlroy was disappointed in Rahm for quitting the PGA Tour, he acknowledged that it’s not surprising that his opinion changed in the wake of the June 6 announcement of a merge agreement. “Do I find it disappointing? Yes, but the announcement of the framework agreement on June 6th altered the golf landscape,” McIlroy said to Sky Sports.
“I believe that because it legitimized what LIV was attempting to accomplish, it made it slightly easier for guys to make the transition from the PGA Tour to LIV. In 2025, Jon will be in Bethpage. The European tour will need to revise the eligibility requirements for the Ryder Cup as a result of this decision.
“I want Jon Rahm to be on the next Ryder Cup team, there’s no doubt about that.”
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