07 December 2023 , 22:29
744
0
Rory McIlroy wants to see the rules for the Ryder Cup rewritten to allow Jon Rahm the chance to compete at the 2025 Ryder Cup following the Spaniard's LIV Golf move.
Rahm became the latest big-name player to make the switch to the breakaway league, reportedly earning a record-breaking £450 million to sign on the dotted line. On the back of his defection it is expected that the Masters champion will follow the same fate as the likes of Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson in being suspended by the PGA Tour.
Another key question surrounding the 29-year-old's Saudi switch is his Ryder Cup eligibility, after a number of European stars gave up their rights to represent Team Europe on the back of joining LIV.
READ MORE: Jon Rahm 'signs for LIV Golf' in £450m deal and sends shockwaves through PGA Tour
The likes of Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood were all absent from Europe's win in Rome in October, after they opted to resign from the DP World Tour having been fined for moving to the breakaway league. One man who did compete in Italy was Rahm, who starred alongside fellow talisman McIlroy at Marco Simone.
Bubba Watson shares details of horror knee injury ahead of LIV Golf debut
The Northern Irishman however could be without arguably his most important teammate for their title defence at Bethpage Black in 2025, prompting McIlroy to call for a change in the rule book. "As someone that plays on the PGA Tour it is disappointing," the four-time major winner said on Rahm's decision in an interview with Sky Sports.
Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm led Europe to victory in Rome (Getty Images)"As someone who has played on three Ryder Cup teams with Jon... 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, absolutely, there is no question about that. I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team."
McIlroy has been one of LIV's biggest critics following its emergence last summer, having pledged his loyalties to the PGA Tour. Despite this, it appears the Northern Irishman has no ill-feeling towards his teammate and his decision to jump ship.
"I am going to miss competing against him week-in-week-out. He is such a good player, he has so much talent. He is so tenacious, and a great teammate at the Ryder Cup. I have nothing but good things to say about Jon. I respect the hell out of him as a golfer.
"He seems like he wants to live his life the right way. He wants to be a good dad, a good husband. You can't judge someone for making a decision that is the best thing for them." Rahm is not the first teammate McIlroy has lost to the LIV setup, with five of the 12-man 2021 European team opting to sign with the breakaway league last summer.
Discussing the departure of Poulter an co last October, the former Open champion was slightly less understanding. "I think it is the first time in my life that I have felt betrayal, in a way," McIlroy told The Guardian. "It's an unfamiliar feeling to me. You build bonds with these people through Ryder Cups and other things...
"I would like to think the Ryder Cup means as much to them as it does to me. Maybe it does. But knowing what the consequences could be, I just could never make that decision. OK, it might not be 100 per cent certain but that it could be the outcome? It just isn't a move I would be willing to make. I thought they felt the same way."