31 January 2024 , 01:11
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Rory McIlroy has softened his stance on how the PGA Tour should treat his peers who have left to join LIV Golf and has urged the tour to let the LIV defectors return punishment-free.
After Tyrrell Hatton, one of McIlroy's teammates on the European Ryder Cup team, signed with the Saudi Arabian-backed circuit for £50million, McIlroy has again declared his softened stance on the consequences defectors should face.
"I think life is about choices," he said Tuesday regarding Hatton's decision to join LIV. "Guys made choices to go and play LIV, guys made choices to stay here. If people still have eligibility on this tour and they want to come back and play or you want to try and do something, let them come back.
"I mean, I don't - I don't think - I think it's hard to punish people. I don't think there should be a punishment for - obviously I've changed my tune on that because I see where golf is and I see that having a diminished PGA Tour and having a diminished LIV Tour or anything else is bad for both parties.
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"It would be much better being together and moving forward together for the good of the game. That's my opinion of it."
McIlroy's change of heart comes after speaking with Hatton about his decision to leave the PGA Tour and join Jon Rahm's Legion XIII roster. It was reported that Hatton originally was concerned about his status for the 2025 Ryder Cup, as those who join LIV are banned and fined by the DP World Tour.
However, Rahm spoke privately with Hatton, and though it was unclear what the topic of conversation was about, the Telegraph reports that Hatton was comfortable enough with what the Spaniard shared with him, thus paving the way for his defection. What's more, in the days leading up to Hatton's defection, Rahm had nothing but great things to say about his teammate and also shared how his defection could cause him to miss out on the Ryder Cup.
Rory McIlroy has changed his tune regarding his PGA Tour peers that have defected to LIV Golf (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)"Tyrrell is a fierce competitor, proven champion, and of course my Ryder Cup teammate," Rahm said in a statement welcoming the Brit to his team. "My position for the Ryder Cup remains the same. I've explained many times how meaningful it is to me and I hope I can be in future editions.
"It's a big risk to take. That's not up to me right now but, if it was up to me, I'll be eligible to play so I surely hope I can keep up the good golf and give them reasons to have me on the team."
With Rahm, and now Hatton, unable to participate in the Ryder Cup because of their affiliation with LIV Golf, McIlroy explained in late 2023 how the rules would need to be changed for Rahm to play for the European Team. "Jon is going to be in Bethpage in 2025," he said to Sky Sports.
"So, because of this decision the European Tour is going to have to rewrite the rule for Ryder Cup eligibility, absolutely, there is no question about that. I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team."
With more and more of teammates leaving for the Saudi-backed circuit, it remains to be seen if McIlroy's stance toward LIV - as one of its biggest detractors - will change if more of his peers decide to jump ship and leave the PGA Tour.