Rory McIlroy calls for Ryder Cup change after Rahm’s LIV move

Rory McIlroy believes that the DP World Tour will need to make changes to the qualifying process for the Ryder Cup following Jon Rahm’s decision to join LIV Golf.

World No.3 Rahm signed with the Saudi-funded league last night following weeks of speculation over his future.

The deal, reported to be worth up to $450million, will make the Spaniard the highest-paid athlete on the planet.

It also means LIV now has three of the last five major champions on its books, strengthening both its fight for legitimacy and, potentially, its bargaining position in ‘framework agreement’ negotiations with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.

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The latter will be less impacted than the former by Rahm’s decision to join LIV – he played only two regular DP World Tour events in 2023 – but, unless it changes its rules on Ryder Cup qualification, the 29-year-old is likely to miss out on the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage.

Currently, European players must be members of the DP World Tour to be eligible for the biennial clash.

Rahm has already said that he intends to maintain his membership of the European circuit but his route to automatic qualification for the match would likely be determined by his performances in the majors, putting his place in real jeopardy.

And that is why Rory McIlroy is calling for change.

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Speaking to Sky Sports News, he said: “Jon is going to be in Bethpage [New York] in 2025.

“Because of this decision, the European tour is going to have to rewrite the rules for Ryder Cup eligibility.

“There’s absolutely no question about that – I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team.”

He added: “I’m going to miss competing against him week in, week out. He has got so much talent, he’s so tenacious and he’s a great team-mate in the Ryder Cup.

“The thing that I’ve realised is that you can’t judge someone for making a decision that they feel is the best thing for them.

“Is it disappointing to me? Yes, but the landscape of golf changed on June 6th, when the framework agreement was announced, and I think because of that it made the jump from the PGA Tour to LIV a little bit easier for guys.”

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor