McIlroy issued emotional Ryder Cup message to Rahm before £450 million LIV move
Rory McIlroy shared an emotional moment with Jon Rahm as he vowed that his Ryder Cup teammate was pushing him to 'be better' just months before he completed a sensational switch to LIV Golf.
The reigning Masters champion shocked the sporting world as he signed a £450million deal with the Saudi Arabian circuit back in December. Arguably the most staggering coup in LIV's short history, the 29-year-old was lured following a bumper year in which he won at Augusta, alongside success in four PGA Tour tournaments across 2022-23.
Arguably heading for the Gulf State at the peak of his powers, the world No. 3 also shared a heart-to-heart with infamous LIV critic McIlroy after they had won the Ryder Cup together. As the Spanish star took in the adulation of his peer at Marco Simone, the Northern Irishman admitted his contemporary's excellence was helping him to improve his own game.
McIlroy cut an emotional figure as the magnitude of Europe's collective success set in for him as he proceeded to embrace several of his teammates in footage released in episode eight of Netflix's 'Full Swing' series. Looking exhausted but in a state of sheer elation, the four-time majors winner hugged teammate Rahm, saying: "Honestly Jon, you make me want to be better," before the Spaniard added: "I wanna cry."
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Still, this moment between the pair clearly was not quite enough to swing Rahm's thought process when the PIF-backed tour came knocking with its lucrative offer in December. Eventually, the 2021 US Open winner found it impossible to refuse LIV's overtures as he agreed to a deal stretching over four years with the project.
As they basked in the glory of a memorable victory over their adversaries from across the pond, the jubilation was shown to have lasted long into the night. "Come on Europe," a visibly euphoric McIlroy exclaimed, while receiving applauds from those gathered after Team Europe's victors were presented with the famous gold trophy in Rome.
In a retrospective address to camera as he reflected on the experience, the Northern Irishman explained why the sensation of winning in this event is so addictive for the world's best. He said: "It was an extra special win because we were really playing for something that's bigger than ourselves.
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The bond between Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy was clear at the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club"This is our time to do our bit for Europe and leave the culture and the team in a better spot than when we inherited it," McIlroy asserted as he explained his motivations, while a montage of stars including Rahm spraying champagne in celebration played. He added: "That's why we really pulled together as a team. That, to me, meant the absolute world."
In episode one, McIlroy was also disarmingly honest with his assessment of his struggles in the Masters, as his lack of success at Augusta stretched into a fifteenth year. In a candid moment, he admitted: It was the best opportunity I had to win a major in a long, long time, sometimes it just doesn’t work out.
" It was so far away from where I should have been. I felt like I was going into that Masters playing really well, he said, as he fell short of having the famous green jacked bestowed on him once more. He continued: "I felt almost as confident as ever going into that tournament and just laid an egg. I played like dogs*** that week."
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