Rory McIlroy says that qualification rules for the next Ryder Cup will have to be changed due to Jon Rahm joining LIV Golf.
It was confirmed late on Thursday that the two-time Major winner will join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf from the 2024 season.
The Spaniard was part of the European Ryder Cup team which defeated Team USA at this year's tournament in Rome. Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson were all ruled out of this year's Ryder Cup due to their participation in LIV Golf.
28 September 2023; Rory McIlroy, right, and Jon Rahm of Europe during the opening ceremony of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
"It's hard to sit here and criticise Jon because of what a great player he is and the experiences I've had with him," McIlroy told Sky Sports.
"All I would say is that I'll be disappointed not to play against him more regularly in the future.
"Jon is going to be in Bethpage in 2025 [for the Ryder Cup]. Because of this decision, the European Tour are going to have to rewrite the rules for Ryder Cup eligibility, absolutely, there's no question about that. I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team."
McIlroy said earlier this year that those who had defected to LIV Golf, like Garcia, Westwood and Poulter, should not be part of the European team.
The world number two ranked McIlroy does remain opposed to LIV Golf.
"I'm going to miss competing against [Jon Rahm] week in and week out," McIlroy continued.
"He's such a good player, has so much talent, so tenacious. He's a great teammate in the Ryder Cup. I have nothing but good things to say about Jon. I respect the hell out of him as a golfer and he seems like he wants to live his life the right way, wants to be a good dad, a good husband.
"The thing that I realised is you can't judge someone for making a decision that they feel is the best thing for them. Is it disappointing for me? Yes, but the landscape of golf changed on June 6 when the framework agreement was announced.
1 October 2023; Team Europe captain Luke Donald, centre, with the Ryder cup alongside his team, back row, from left, Ludvig Åberg, Robert MacIntyre, Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry, Nicolai Højgaard, Sepp Straka, Viktor Hovland, front row, from left, Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood during the singles matches on the final day of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
"Because of that, it made the jump from PGA Tour to LIV a little bit easier for guys. They let the first guys really take the heat. This framework agreement legitimised what LIV was trying to do. It's made it easier now if that's really what you want to do because we've talked about this a lot; product to product, I don't think the two compare at all. The PGA Tour and DP World Tour are superior products, I feel.
"The landscape of sport is changing. If there is a place for this sort of team golf, these franchises and all the things they talk about; if team golf works, then maybe it works. My opinion now is that there's only one great team event in golf, and it's the Ryder Cup. That's never going to change."
Rory McIlroy’s thoughts on Jon Rahm signing up to LIV pic.twitter.com/RsfkbFs7Mp
— Jamie Weir (@jamiecweir) December 8, 2023
