Adrian Meronk was hurt by his Ryder Cup snub in September but his future in the competition is set to be complicated further by his imminent move to the breakaway LIV Golf circuit
Although Adrian Meronk’s impending move to LIV Golf has complicated his quest for vindication, Rory McIlroy encouraged the Pole to use his Ryder Cup heartbreak as “fuel for the fire” in his bid to qualify for Bethpage in 2025.
McIlroy felt sorry for Meronk, who won the 2023 Seve Ballesteros Award after winning the DP World Tour players’ player of the year award. Luke Donald, the captain of the European Ryder Cup, controversially left out the 30-year-old for the match against the Americans at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.
Left-field pick Ludvig Aberg’s heroics for the Europeans in Rome as they reclaimed the fabled trophy validated Donald’s choice, though Meronk said it was “tough to swallow” that he was passed over for a captain’s pick.
When McIlroy and Meronk were paired together at the Irish Open, a week after Donald’s selections were made public, the Northern Irishman had some advice for his playing partner. However, Meronk’s anticipated relocation to LIV Golf has clouded the situation.
In September, McIlroy stated of Meronk, “We all know that he’s heartbroken and he had as much of a case as anyone to be on that team.” “He would have made the squad in any other year; a few unlucky events prevented him from doing so.
“I believe that Jon Rahm and I qualified based on the European Points list rather than the World Points list, and it was extremely unfortunate for Ludvig Aberg to play the way he did. However, he shot a respectable score today and that’s all he can do. He will use this as fuel to keep playing well and, ideally, win the next one in the United States.”
The financially supported breakaway league in Saudi Arabia has been actively seeking talent to bolster its roster during the off-season, and it has successfully brought in two-time major champion Jon Rahm. Meronk, who abruptly withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open on Wednesday, is expected to follow suit and will make his debut at the season-opener in Mayakoba, Mexico, next week, according to The Times.
After his recent success on the DP World Tour, Meronk was set to begin his first season on the PGA Tour. In December, he celebrated the occasion by posting a video on social media. However, it seems that LIV Golf’s wealth—which includes large tournament purses and upfront signing bonuses—have enticed him to leave.
As of right now, Meronk cannot play at Bethpage in Long Island, New York the following season if he signs with LIV. To be eligible for the Ryder Cup, players must be members of the DP World Tour. Those who join the breakaway tour risk having their memberships suspended and facing fines.
The Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, the organization supporting LIV Golf, and the PGA Tour are currently in merger talks that may eventually allow European players on LIV to compete in the Ryder Cup. It would not be in the best interests of the European team to have Rahm, who is arguably their best player, ineligible, so his departure could also force a change.
However, Meronk is about to venture into uncharted territory, as the future of the game at the highest level remains distinctly uncertain. Though McIlroy’s advice from September may still hold true, things are going to get much more complicated for Meronk in the Ryder Cup going forward.
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