Rory McIlroy gives verdict on LIV stars becoming Ryder Cup captains

Rory McIlroy’s dropped numerous bombshells in his impromptu media gathering before the start of the Genesis Invitational on Thursday.

Before battling to an opening level-par 72 in brutal conditions at Torrey Pines, McIlroy revealed that he had played golf with Donald Trump as recently as last month and that the US President told him he didn’t like the rival LIV Golf League’s format.

As part of his ever-evolving stance on the professional game’s strife, McIlroy also claimed LIV stars like Bryson DeChambeau should be brought back into the PGA Tour fold without retribution.

But does McIlroy’s softening view on LIV players extend to those who jumped ship to the breakaway tour and put their Ryder Cup futures in jeopardy?

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The Northern Irishman was asked in the wide-ranging 25-minute debrief with reporters about the prospect of LIV players like Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood one day becoming European captains.

“I would have to be convinced,” he replied. But what would convince him?

“It would take them treating it as if Luke Donald’s treated it for the last three years, that’s what it would take to convince me,” McIlroy added.

McIlroy was then challenged that it would be difficult for European stalwarts like Poulter and Westwood to earn those positions as they are no longer members of the DP World Tour.

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“They gave up their European Tour membership, right?” he replied. “Other guys have access to the DP World Tour, Tyrrell [Hatton], Jon [Rahm], they have access.”

Poulter, Westwood and Sergio Garcia all forfeited their DP World Tour memberships in 2023 after mounting fines and suspensions imposed on them for competing in conflicting LIV events were upheld by a sports arbitration panel.

But Garcia, the competition’s record points scorer, has since recovered his card and is now serving tournament suspensions as he targets a return to the team for Bethpage Black in September.

Rahm and Hatton, meanwhile, are currently still eligible to play on the DP World Tour, and therefore the Ryder Cup, pending a hearing over their monetary sanctions accrued for competing on the LIV circuit.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.