LONDON:
Rory McIlroy said the European side should “rewrite the rules” on Ryder Cup eligibility after Spain’s Masters champion Jon Rahm jumped ship to LIV Golf.
Saudi-backed LIV scored a coup on Thursday when Ram confirmed weeks of speculation by announcing he was joining the ring in a deal reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia are ineligible to play for Europe at the Ryder Cup after signing with LIV.
Henrik Stenson was removed as captain.
World number two McIlroy, a fierce and outspoken opponent of the LIV, said Rahm following the other players at the LIV would require the DP World Tour — formerly the European Tour — to reconsider its stance.
Rahm is a mainstay of the European team and helped them win the Ryder Cup this year.
The next Ryder Cup is in Bethpage, New York.
“John will be at Bethpage in 2025,” Northern Ireland’s McIlroy told Sky Sports on Thursday after Rahm’s move to LIV was confirmed.
“So because of this decision, the European Tour will have to rewrite the rules for Ryder Cup eligibility.
“There’s absolutely no doubt about it – I definitely want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team.”
McIlroy said earlier this year that no LIV rebel should be able to play for Europe in the Ryder Cup.
Rahm’s move comes as the PGA Tour and Saudi promoters LIV Golf try to finalize the details of their bombshell merger announced in June.
A deadline of December 31 has been set to agree a framework for the new PGA-LIV joint venture.
With Rahm arguably the biggest star yet to enter the LIV, McIlroy fears professional golf is in danger of “eating itself”.
“My fear is that we continue down this path where we have competitive tours and that divides the eyes that are in the game,” McIlroy said.
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