Rory McIlroy facing backlash over wildly different reactions to Ryder Cup teammates' LIV Golf moves

In the past, the Northern Irishman was very vocal in his opposition to Ryder Cup partners like Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell and Henrik Stenson jumping ship to the Saudi-backed breakaway tour.

"I think it is the first time in my life that I have felt betrayal in a way," he said earlier this year.

"It's an unfamiliar feeling to me. You build bonds with these people through Ryder Cups and other things.

"Them knowing that what they are about to do is going to jeopardise them from being a part of that ever again?"

But his reaction to the news that Rahm had followed suit and joined LIV Golf was very different indeed.

While McIlroy admitted he was "disappointed" by the Spaniard's decision, he was quick to stress that he could not judge Rahm for making the move and made it clear that eligibility rules would need to change to make it sure the World No 3 is able to be part of the team in 2025.

"Jon is going to be in Bethpage in 2025 so, because of this decision, the European Tour (DP World Tour) are going to have to rewrite the rules for the Ryder Cup eligibility," McIlroy said. "There's absolutely no question about that... I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team."

When a user on X pointed out the seeming double standard in McIlroy's response compared to earlier LIV defections, the four-time major champion made it clear he considered Rahm to be in a different league to his former teammates.

"We didn't need any of the others in Rome and we didn't miss them," McIlroy said in reference to their victory at Marco Simone in October. "We'd certainly miss and need Jon at Bethpage.

That response raised more than a few eyebrows, considering how much the likes of Garcia, Westwood, Poulter have contributed to Europe's past successes, but McIlroy wasn't done yet.

When another user on X wondered if McIlroy would also now want to change the rules to allow Stenson to captain the European team again, he hit back: "The best thing to happen to the 2023 Euro Ryder cup [sic] team was Henrik going to LIV!"

This comment was enough to get McIlroy's former Ryder Cup partners to weigh in, with Poulter suggesting the tweet could not possibly have come from the Northern Irishman himself.

"Rory McIlroy wouldn't say this. it's [sic] fake I promise you. He is a class act and wouldn't say that about a Team mate."

Westwood was even more sarcastic, writing: "Nice to see the season of good will in full swing! Merry Christmas!!!"

Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal, who briefly joined LIV before returning to the DP World Tour, also joined the conversation.

"Really?" he posted, "I really don't like where this is going," before later adding, "To exalt someone, you don't have to destroy the other."

Meanwhile, while the likes of Stenson, Garcia, Westwood and Poulter were still getting the cold shoulder, fellow LIV golfer Rahm admitted he was feeling the love from McIlroy.

"I have the utmost respect for Rory McIlroy and to have his support right away is very, very special," he told the Fairway to Heaven podcast.

"It's almost emotional to hear about it. The Ryder Cup means a lot to me and it's one of the things that made this decision very difficult for me.

"I've always been hopeful that if I made the step, the DP World Tour would maybe adapt the eligibility so we could play it. 

"With that being said, I absolutely intend to keep my DP World Tour status and PGA Tour status and be a member if possible if allowed and play in more events. 

"So, nothing regarded to that is going to change in my mind. I'm hoping sooner rather than later we hear some news about the Ryder Cup and we get a clear path of how we can make things work. 

"I would love nothing more than to defend the Cup in Bethpage."

READ MORE: Rory McIlroy on Jon Rahm's bombshell switch to LIV Golf: 'I could never make that decision'