Rory McIlroy explains the challenge LIV Rebels will face as Ryder Cup captains
Rory McIlroy speaks to the media at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club on Wednesday in Virginia Water, England.
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With the Solheim Cup wrapped up Sunday in Virginia, the next American-European showdown will be on the men's side, when the Ryder Cup begins at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, NY, next fall.
There are already plenty of story lines, for Bethpage and beyond. Among them for 2025: will any LIV golfers be on the European list? Since the last World Cup, Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton left LIV, which would have deprived Europe of two great players (not to mention LIV before).
As for the story line further down the road: Can you – or should you? – LIV rebels can be used as team captains? Think of Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia or Henrik Stenson, these will be captains before he signs with LIV.
Rory McIlroy says it's not that simple.
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“I think it's difficult because we don't really see each other anymore; “I'm not sure if Poults has given up his European Tour membership,” said McIlroy, speaking at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club on Wednesday. “You know, you need someone who is free. Luke looks at that [Donald] he did it a few years ago, he really made an effort to come. He played in the Czech Republic. He was in Switzerland. He makes an effort to be among the players and make the players feel comfortable when they are with him, the newcomers who have not had the opportunity to be in the team or try to build a team.
“And the guys who have gone, Poulter, Westwood, these young and up-and-comers, you know, how can they build a relationship with them when they're not here?” he continued. “You won't see them. I think that's the most important part of the Ryder Cup and the Ryder Cup captain. I'm not saying Poulter doesn't have the credentials to be a Ryder Cup captain, but I just think with the current state of everything, he needs someone as close to showing his face as possible. Right now, that honestly can't be them because they're somewhere else.”
Some of Europe's Ryder Cup veterans who left LIV were a big reason for the team's success in the US during their run – Europe was 6-1 from 2002 to 2014 – and all were thought to be captains, especially Poulter , who played seven Ryder Cups and was 15-8-2 in them. Equally important, he was the lifeblood of the European teams he belonged to.
However, DP World Tour players who registered for LIV were subsequently fined and suspended, although there is a way for those players to remain eligible for the Ryder Cup.
If those players pay the fines and are suspended, they can regain membership and Ryder Cup eligibility, although the latter will still have to play at least four DP World Tour events, although that shouldn't be a problem for the hopefuls. Ryder Cup consideration.
In a recent interview with Al Arabiya English, Poulter said: “The rules are tough — there's no consensus. I think everyone knows that players need to play a minimum number of times on the European tour to be eligible to play. It's hard for me personally — I find myself in a tricky situation, where I'm not a member, and obviously I can't qualify to be part of the team or even help out as a vice-captain or captain unless I'm part of the team. member again. It's not the best situation, but that's what the tour is holding on to.”
Asked about Poulter on Tuesday, Justin Rose, co-head of the European Ryder Cup, said he thought the sport needed things to be “fast-tracked” when it came to its division and eligibility for the Ryder Cup.
“I definitely see that way [for him to be captain someday],” Rose said, “but I think the golf world needs to make it happen, too.”
Asked if he would be opposed to playing in Poulter's team, Westwood “or whoever else it might be,” McIlroy said: “It's such a gray area. Some I will treat well and others I will not treat well.”
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