Justin Rose weighs in as LIV Golf-Ryder Cup debate rages on

One of the biggest talking points since the formation of LIV Golf has been the Ryder Cup.

For the American team, there isn’t much bother. While players who defected to the Saudi-backed league are banned from PGA Tour, they can still compete in the biennial competition because it’s sanctioned by the PGA of America.

On this side of the Atlantic, it’s a touch more complicated. While LIV golfers are not banished from the DP World Tour, they must remain a member of the European circuit, play the required number of qualifying events, and pay fines for competing in conflicting tournaments.

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It’s the reason why the likes of Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood resigned their European Tour memberships – effectively ending their Ryder Cup careers – and the likes of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton will spend the next four months jetting around the continent in order to meet the minimum amount of tournaments allowed to remain in the picture.

Indeed, Hatton told bunkered ahead of last week’s British Masters exactly how he plans to do it, but one thing’s for sure, the debate will rumble on until the so-called merger between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – which bankrolls the Greg Norman-led LIV Golf League – comes to fruition.

Until then, we can only speculate on whether or not Rahm and Hatton – who combined to win two points from two as a pairing in Rome last year – will tee up when Luke Donald leads his side out once again at Bethpage next year.

And while the new one-list qualifying system doesn’t include a direct path for LIV players, Donald has not ruled anyone out of being on his team at Bethpage.

A stance that has been backed up by his good friend Justin Rose.

The Englishman, widely tipped to replace Donald as captain for the 2027 matches in Ireland, is hoping to make the team himself. And if he keeps up the form that has seen him finish tied-sixth at the PGA Championship and second to Xander Schauffele at The Open in recent months, he will have a good chance. But if he misses out on qualifying and a pick, he will almost certainly be part of Donald’s backroom team.

And speaking to Sky Sports, Rose said it’s “exciting” now the qualification period is underway to make the European team at Bethpage.

“You begin to turn your attentions to it as soon as the points start accruing,” the six-time Ryder Cupper added. “You think, ‘OK, I’ve got to get my skates on and make sure I’m going to be a part of that team.’

“I’ve never really worried about qualifying for the Ryder Cup. Last time around was actually the first time I’ve ever been picked, so maybe I should definitely worry about qualifying for it. What I mean by that is if I’m playing good golf as and when the Ryder Cup comes around, I feel like I could and should be part of the team but I’d definitely like to qualify on merit this time.

“It’s a huge goal for me going into next year.”

And, Rose said, he wants “the best players representing Europe, no matter where they play”.

He continued: “If you’re European and a great player, you should have the opportunity to represent Europe.

“Most players do, the guys on LIV do get the opportunity to represent Europe. I think there is a structure in place, the European Tour has its rules and regulations, if they play in a conflicting event, they accrue a fine, and if they pay the fine, they’re eligible to play.

“So I think there is a fair pathway for everybody to be part of the team.”

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As for any kind of truce in the golf world, former US Open champion Rose has his concerns.

“We’re all kind of used to the new normal,” he explained. “I still don’t think anyone has shed any light on what the future looks like.

“I don’t quite know how this sort of talked-about coming together is really going to play out, so for the moment I think everybody’s making their own personal decision about what’s best for them and you just go about your business. There’s plenty of good golf to be played around the world.

“At the same time, we don’t want to dilute the product too much because obviously seeing great players go head to head on a Sunday evening is what it’s all about.”

Alex Perry is the Associate Editor of bunkered. A journalist for more than 20 years, he has been a golf industry stalwart for the majority of his career and, in a five-year spell at ESPN, covered every sporting event you can think of. He completed his own Grand Slam at the 2023 Masters, having fallen in love with the sport at his hometown club of Okehampton and on the links of nearby Bude & North Cornwall.

Associate Editor