McIlroy has made 'important' decision with major ramifications for LIV stars
Jon Rahm believes Rory McIlroy's calls for the DP World Tour to 'rewrite' the rules to ensure the Spaniard can compete at the 2025 Ryder Cup will play an 'important' role in forging a path back for LIV Golf stars.
Rahm became the latest big-name player to join the LIV setup earlier this week, after the Masters champion signed a record-breaking deal with Greg Norman and co. The move will be a bitter pill to swallow for McIlroy, who has been one of the Saudi-backed circuit's biggest critics.
Despite this the Northern Irishman still had plenty of kind words for his Ryder Cup teammate, even calling for a change in the qualification process to ensure the Spaniard is in New York in 2025 to defend Europe's title.
"Jon is going to be in Bethpage in 2025," McIlroy told Sky Sports. "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's comments come after not one LIV Golf player was involved in Europe's Ryder Cup win in Rome in October. The likes of Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood were all absent at Marco Simone, after their were forced to resign their DP World Tour memberships due to being sanctioned for making the Saudi switch.
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It is expected that Rahm will follow a similar a fate, and if he is to hand in his Tour card, will become ineligible to compete in the United States in just under two years. If the powers that be are to listen to McIlroy's comments, Rahm believes it could go a long way to integrating LIV players back into the Ryder Cup and their former tours.
"Right now, to hear Rory say that actually makes me a little emotional," the Masters champion told the Pat McAfee Show on the back of his mega-money move. "I respect the man so much. He has done a lot for the game of golf, and accomplished a lot as well.
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Rory McIlroy called on Jon Rahm to return to the Ryder Cup in 2025"For him to have my back right away from day one is important. It is important for this process to change faster than later. The earlier we can get a way back for people like me to maybe to qualify for that team, the easier it will be for us to compete and try and not have to be a pick."
Rahm played an instrumental role in Europe's dominant victory over the U.S. this autumn, and if his LIV move was to cost him a spot in 2025, it would prove a huge loss for Luke Donald and co. The Spaniard has repeatedly revealed how much the matchplay event means to him personally, but did admit their are aspects of his LIV offer that were worth risking his Ryder Cup future.
“What they had to offer was worth the risk of maybe not playing a Ryder Cup," he said on Thursday. “The innovation. The difference. Being part of a team. Being an owner and a captain—when I grew up playing golf it wasn’t an opportunity. But it is now, and it’s really enticing to me. I’ve seen people grow and I’m looking forward to hoping making an impact."
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