Rory McIlroy has offered his opinion on Jon Rahm’s decision to leave the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League for £450m.
When former European Ryder Cup stalwarts left the established tours for LIV Golf riches in 2022, Rory McIlroy spoke of feeling ‘betrayal’.
However, after learning that Jon Rahm had been formally introduced as a LIV Golf player, the Ulsterman’s tone changed.
After weeks of intense speculation, Rahm was officially announced on December 7th as the biggest signing to date for the breakaway tour.
The current Masters champion’s decision to withdraw from McIlroy and Tiger Woods’ indoor golf league, TGL, served as the impetus for that speculation.
Rahm cited time commitments but his weeks of conspicuous silence allowed every golf fan on the planet to read between the lines.
It is unknown how much money Rahm is being paid up front but multiple publications suggests his fee is £450m.
McIlroy spoke to Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir about Rahm’s decision to leave the PGA Tour.
The four-times major champion previously declared rival league players shouldn’t be allowed to compete at the biennial dust-up.
“But I think this week of all weeks, it’s going to hit home with them that, you know, they are not here,” McIlroy told reporters in Rome in September before leading Luke Donald’s Europe to a four-point victory.
The four-times major champion now wants the rules to be changed to allow Rahm to be on the team at Bethpage Black in two years’ time.
He told Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir: “As someone who has played on three Ryder Cup teams with Jon… Jon is going to be in Bethpage in 2025.
“So because of this decision the European Tour are going to have to rewrite the rules for Ryder Cup eligibility, absolutely, there is no question about that.
“I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team.”
Asked about Rahm’s decision, McIlroy continued: “I am going to miss competing against him week-in-week-out.
“He is such a good player, he has so much talent. He is so tenacious, and a great teammate at the Ryder Cup. I have nothing but good things to say about Jon. I respect the hell out of him as a golfer.”
McIlroy, 34, proceeded: “He seems like he needs to carry on with his life the correct way. He needs to be a decent father, a decent spouse. You can’t pass judgment on somebody for settling on a choice that is really ideal for them.
“I might want to think the Ryder Cup implies as a lot to them as it does to me. Perhaps it does. However, understanding what the results could be, I just would never settle on that choice.
“Alright, it probably won’t be 100% sure yet that it very well may be the result? It simply isn’t a move I might want to make. I thought they felt the same way.”
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