Jon Rahm has called for the US and European Ryder Cup teams to make a joint decision on allowing LIV rebels to play… but admits banning defectors could allow ‘talented kids player to show’ in Rome
- The Ryder Cup will be held at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in September
- The US team has ruled that LIV Golf players are ineligible to compete
- Team Europe captain Luke Donald refuses to be drawn into that scenario
- The DP World Tour faces a court hearing next month from a number of LIV rebels
Jon Rahm has called for the US and European Ryder Cup teams to make a joint decision on whether or not they will allow LIV golfers to play in the event in Rome this fall.
The Americans have already decided that no defectors from the PGA Tour will be eligible, but the picture on the European side is not yet clear.
Late captain Luke Donald has repeatedly refused to be drawn into that scenario ahead of a court hearing next month, pitting several LIV recruits, including Cup hero Ian Poulter, against DP World Tour because of their right to play on the European circuit.
Jon Rahm (left) called for both Ryder Cup teams (pictured right captains, Zach Johnson and Luke Donald) to make a joint decision on allowing LIV Golf defectors to play
Either way the decision, Rahm, who has previously expressed his belief that LIV’s stars should be involved in the Cup, wants to avoid a situation where the two teams adopt different strategies. On the European side, the LIV talent pool includes the Cup’s record point scorer Sergio Garcia and Adrian Otaegui, who are currently in the automatic qualifying spots.
Speaking ahead of the PGA Tour’s first ‘elevated’ event of the season, the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, Rahm said: ‘Listen, some people have to make some tough choices, right? I can’t do it anymore.
‘My guess is I hope the PGA of America and the European Tour make a decision together. I don’t think it would be smart to have one team allowing LIV players and the other not.’
If rebel LIV Golf is banned, veterans Lee Westwood (L) and Ian Poulter (R) will be gone.
Europe’s LIV talent pool includes Cup record point scorer Sergio Garcia (right)
Added world No. 5: ‘Even if they decide not to be in that side, I think it will give an opportunity for a lot of good young players to show up and get a chance in Europe, right?
‘It will be an opportunity for all of them. We saw a younger US team last Ryder Cup, and they did what they did.
“So I’m hoping that these younger guys who grew up watching the Ryder Cup and seeing their idols do what they’re doing, let’s say, it energizes the team a little bit somehow, and we show up there to win.” .’
Rahm in Hawaii with the American world No. 4 Patrick Cantlay, listed among LIV’s top targets ahead of their second season. He claimed before Thursday’s first round that he had no plans to join the breakaway ‘at the moment’, but in comments that will continue to draw attention his way, he spoke about LIV’s wider impact on the golfing landscape.
American world No. said. 4 Patrick Cantlay has no plans to join the breakaway ‘for now’
He said: ‘I think (the speculation) is because I haven’t been very vocal one way or the other. Guys, for the most part, they seem pretty polarized on this issue, and I look at it as a competition for top talent, just like any other business.
‘But I have no plans to do that right now, which has been my stance, you know, basically all along.
‘I think it’s been interesting how much it’s changed golf, like everyone’s trying to change and make golf better all of a sudden. I think that’s going to be a huge benefit for the viewer because I think now, more than ever, competition makes people grow and grow and think outside the box. So I think it’s really great and will be great for professional golf in the long run. But it’s such a polarizing issue that it’s made people feel emotional about something that’s been the same for a long time.’
