Donald urged to snub LIV Golf rebels by ex-Ryder Cup captain as selection looms
Luke Donald has been urged to keep members of LIV Golf out of his Ryder Cup team ahead of this year's event by former European-winning captain Paul McGinley.
Donald is the man who has been put in charge of the Team Europe when they host their American rivals on home soil in Rome later this year. Selecting the continent's 12 top players is always a tough task for any captain, but it seems Donald has it harder than most.
This comes thanks to the new-found division over the past 12 months within the the professional game, following the inception of the LIV Golf Series last summer.
Since kicking off less than a year ago LIV has made quite the impact, with the sport's two traditional leading circuits, the PGA and DP World Tour at war with the Saudi-funded series.
Following LIV's first ever event last June, the PGA Tour banned any player that went on to make the controversial move.
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Over in Europe, the DP World Tour have been able to inflict similar sanctions after a court order ruled that the Wentworth-based circuit can issue financial and on-course punishments to any Tour member opting to compete with LIV Golf.
A number of Luke Donald's former teammates are now LIV Golf members (Getty Images)The controversy has left Donald with a huge selection dilemma, with this year's Ryder Cup now just months away. One man who knows what it takes to defeat the Americans is McGinley, after he secured victory at Gleneagles back in 2014.
As a result, even if those who have made the Saudi switch are able to compete, the Irishman has urged the 2023 captain to avoid picking LIV players in a bid to keep harmony within the ranks. "Relationships between those who went to LIV and tour loyalists are not going to mend in three or four months," McGinley told Golf Digest.
"Which is not to say that, technically at least, Luke won’t be allowed to make any decision he wants. He won’t be forced to pick someone or not pick someone. But I also know that, if he did blend LIV players into the team or as part of his back-room squad, a new dynamic would be created, one that would be very difficult to manage.
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Paul McGinley has urged Luke Donald to avoid picking LIV Golf players (PA)"Luke has enough on his hands with the strength of the American team and the changing of our old guard to one largely new, without trying to manage relationships within the camp.” Donald may however be left with no choice, especially if a LIV star delivers at one of the sport's three remaining majors between now and September.
McGinley though believes the Englishman should take personality into his decision, along with form. He added: "If, say, Martin Kaymer was to win two major championships this year, he would have to be considered. Unlike, say, Ian Poulter or Lee Westwood, he hasn’t created a lot of anti-tour noise. He’s a nice guy. If anyone could be blended in, assuming he was also playing unbelievably well, it is him."
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