Rory McIlroy Wants Ryder Cup Rules Rewritten to Allow John Rahm In

If you think the reaction to Jon Rahm leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf hasn’t been as harsh as when other golfers made the jump, you’re not alone in that assessment.

One who agrees with you is Rory McIlroy, who not only wished Rahm well but went a step further when it comes to whether the Spaniard can continue to compete in future Ryder Cups. 

“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,” McIlroy told Sky Sports.

“I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team. 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 teammate in the Ryder Cup.”

Rory McIlroy’s thoughts on Jon Rahm signing up to LIV pic.twitter.com/RsfkbFs7Mp

— Jamie Weir (@jamiecweir) December 8, 2023

It’s a softened stance by McIlroy, who said leading up to this past Ryder Cup that those who resigned from the DP World Tour and lost their eligibility for the biennial tournament knew what they were signing up for when they went to LIV.

Rory McIlroy on European LIV golfers not playing the Ryder Cup this week:

“They’re going to miss being here more than we’re missing them.”

pic.twitter.com/aS9rqMV03Y

— Daniel Hussey (@DanielHussey2) September 27, 2023

“They’re going to miss being here more than we’re missing them,” McIlroy said in September at the site of the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome. 

McIlroy did address what he meant by that statement and what he said on Thursday regarding Rahm.

“We didn’t NEED any of the others in Rome, and we didn’t miss them. We’d certainly miss and need Jon at Bethpage,” McIlroy wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. 

Which is very true… we didn’t NEED any of the others in Rome and we didn’t miss them. We’d certainly miss and need Jon at Bethpage.

— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) December 8, 2023

The Northern Irishman also touched on why he believes that the Rahm news wasn’t met with derision from the so-called cancel-culture crowd — even Callaway is sticking with Rahm as he makes the move. 

“Is [Rahm going to LIV] disappointing to me? Yes, but the landscape of golf changed on June 6, 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.”

In addition to hoping to be able to play in future Ryder Cups, Rahm said he is not resigning from either the PGA Tour or DP World Tour, and he hopes to be allowed to compete in certain events on each circuit moving forward. 

Cover Image via X