Jon Rahm joins LIV: Rory McIlroy says Spaniard must be on next European Ryder Cup team

Jon Rahm’s decision to join the Saudi-funded LIV golf tour has sparked quite the debate, especially considering Rory McIlroy’s earlier stance on LIV players in the Ryder Cup. It’s like a golfing soap opera! Let’s delve into this golfing drama and see how the plot has thickened.

Rewinding the tape a bit, earlier this year, McIlroy was adamant that LIV players should not represent Europe against the United States in the Ryder Cup. He was singing a different tune back then, stating that Europe didn’t need any of the LIV players in Rome and didn’t miss them. However, as soon as Jon Rahm made his move, McIlroy did a complete 180 and declared, “We need Jon.” Talk about a plot twist!

So, why the sudden change of heart, Rory? Well, it seems the landscape of golf had a tectonic shift on June 6, 2023, when the PGA and DP World Tours announced their ‘framework agreement’ to merge with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, which backs LIV Golf. This agreement was like a seismic event that legitimized what LIV was trying to achieve, making the jump from the PGA Tour to LIV a tad easier for the players.

But here’s where it gets really interesting. Under current DP World Tour rules, Rahm would still be eligible to play in the next Ryder Cup. However, his switch to the Saudi-funded LIV tour has put that eligibility in jeopardy. European players must be members of the DP World Tour to participate in the Ryder Cup, and some stalwarts like Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Sergio Garcia found themselves on the sidelines this year after resigning from the tour due to their involvement with LIV.

Rahm, on the other hand, has signed up for DP World Tour membership for the 2024 season while also expressing his desire to maintain his status on the European circuit while playing LIV events. The criteria for the 2025 European Ryder Cup team will be announced next year, and it seems that McIlroy is confident that the European Tour will have to rewrite the rules for Ryder Cup eligibility, specifically with Rahm in mind.

Rahm, who was unbeaten as Europe defeated the United States in Rome, is undoubtedly a prized asset, and McIlroy isn’t alone in wanting him on the next Ryder Cup team. The drama continues as the golfing world grapples with these changes and the potential division between the PGA Tour and LIV. McIlroy is worried that this split might “divide eyeballs” on golf, and he makes a strong case for having all the best golfers under one umbrella, something that fans would undoubtedly appreciate.

So, in this golfing saga, it seems that Jon Rahm’s move to LIV has set the stage for some rulebook rewrites and intense debates. Golf fans and enthusiasts will surely be watching this plot unfold as the sport navigates a “moving and changing environment” in the years to come. Stay tuned for the next episode of “As the Golf Ball Spins.”

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More about Golf Ryder Cup Drama

• [Jon Rahm joins LIV: Rory McIlroy says Spaniard must be on next European Ryder Cup team](Add reference link here)
• [Rory McIlroy’s change of stance on LIV golfers](Add reference link here)
• [PGA and DP World Tours’ framework agreement with Saudi PIF](Add reference link here)
• [Jon Rahm’s move to LIV Golf](Add reference link here)
• [Impact of PGA and DP World Tours’ merger on golf](Add reference link here)
• [Rory McIlroy’s concerns about the division in golf](Add reference link here)