Rory McIlroy has performed a massive U-turn when it comes to his stance on allowing LIV Golf players to compete in the Ryder Cup following Jon Rahm’s defection.
The Spaniard, 28, confirmed his decision to abandon the PGA Tour for LIV Golf Thursday night after inking a deal worth $500million in the Saudi-backed circuit’s biggest coup to date.
But McIlroy, the PGA Tour’s staunchest loyalist, didn’t show the same animosity towards the Masters champions as he has LIV’s other rebels in the past.
Golf’s civil war has created a massive rift between the Northern Irishman and his former European Ryder Cup compadres, including Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood.
However, while McIlroy took a firm stance against allowing the defectors to represent Europe in Rome in September, just over two months later, he appears to have a different view when it comes to Rahm.
Rory McIlroy has performed a U-turn on his Ryder Cup stance after Jon Rahm’s defection
The Northern Irishman previously insisted rebels, including Lee Westwood (left) and Ian Poulter (right), shouldn’t be allowed to represent Team Europe against the Americans
‘It’s hard to sit here and criticize Jon because of what a great player he is and the experiences I’ve had with him but all I would say is that I will be disappointed not to play against him more regularly in the future,’ he told Sky Sports.
‘Jon is going to be in Bethpage in 2025 so because of this decision the European Tour are going to have to rewrite the rules for Ryder Cup eligibility, there’s no question about that. I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team.’
McIlroy’s comments come as a stark contrast to his dig at Europe’s LIV rebels ahead of the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone in September.
‘It’s certainly a little strange not having them around,’ Europe’s figurehead said. ‘But I think this week of all weeks, it’s going to hit home with them that they are not here, and I think they are going to miss being here more than we’re missing them.
‘I think this week is a realization that the decision that they made has led to not being a part of this week, and that’s tough. The landscape in golf is ever-changing and more dynamic, and we’ll see what happens and whether they will be part of it in the future.
‘I always thought leading up to this week is when it’s going to hit home that they are not going to be here.’
For the first time since 1997, Europe’s side did not include one of Westwood, Garcia or Poulter after the Cup icons cashed in on the breakaway circuit but Luke Donald’s team still prevailed in a five-point victory of the Americans.
McIlroy urged the European Tour to rewrite the ruled to allow the Spaniard to play in 2025
‘The thing I’ve realized is that you can’t judge someone for making a decision that they feel is the right thing for them,’ McIlroy added to Sky Sports.
‘Is it disappointing to me? Yes but, the landscape of golf changed on June 6 when the framework agreement was announced.
‘nd I think because of that it made the jump from the PGA Tour to LIV a little bit easier for guys. They let the first guys really take the heat. This framework agreement basically legitimized what LIV was trying to do and I think it’s made it easier, if that’s really what you want to do.
‘Product to product I don’t think the two compare at all. But the landscape of sport is changing and if there is a place for this sort of team golf, then maybe it works.’
