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

McIlroy has long been a vocal opponent of the LIV Golf Tour and has been able to rely on Rahm as one of his most high-profile supporters.

But all that changed on Thursday as Rahm confirmed he was joining the Saudi-backed tour in a decision that is sure to have a major impact on the game.

Rahm played a leading role in Europe's Ryder Cup victory in Rome this year but his participation in future competitions is now up in the air, and McIlroy said this was the reason he could never follow Rahm's example.

"As someone that plays on the PGA Tour it is disappointing," McIlroy said in an interview with Sky Sports. "I am going to miss competing against him week-in-week-out.

"He is such a good player, he has so much talent. He is so tenacious, and a great teammate at the Ryder Cup. I have nothing but good things to say about Jon. I respect the hell out of him as a golfer.

"He seems like he wants to live his life the right way. He wants to be a good dad, a good husband. You can't judge someone for making a decision that is the best thing for them.

"I would like to think the Ryder Cup means as much to them as it does to me. Maybe it does. But knowing what the consequences could be, I just could never make that decision. OK, it might not be 100 per cent certain but that it could be the outcome? It just isn't a move I would be willing to make. I thought they felt the same way."

At the same time, McIlroy made it clear that eligibility rules would need to change as he wouldn't want to contest the Ryder Cup without Rahm by his side.

"As someone who has played on three Ryder Cup teams with Jon... 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, absolutely, there is no question about that. I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team," he added.

On his Ryder Cup future, Rahm told reporters: "My position with the Ryder Cup stands as it's always been. I love the Ryder Cup.

"I've explained many times how meaningful it is to me and I surely hope I can be in future editions of the Ryder Cup.

"That's not up to me right now, but if it was up to me, I'll be eligible to play so I surely hope I can keep up the good golf, keep playing good golf and give them a reason to have me on the team."

"It's a big risk to take, but I've had it in consideration and again, I'm hopeful that I can be part of the team again."

As things stand, Rahm will be eligible for the Ryder Cup as long as he remains a DP World Tour member, which requires him to play in four regular tournaments per season.

He will also earn points towards qualification through major championships, but faces fines and suspensions for playing in LIV tournaments without the required "conflicting event" releases from the DP World Tour.

In April this year, an arbitration panel ruled that the Tour had the right to sanction players for such "serious breaches" of its code of behaviour, a case sparked by 12 players appealing against fines of £100,000 and suspension from the Scottish Open for playing LIV's inaugural event in June 2022.

It is understood that fines and suspensions are assessed on a case-by-case basis, with former LIV player Bernd Wiesberger currently serving a ban after paying all of his fines in order to regain his DP World Tour membership for the new season.

Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood resigned their memberships in the wake of the arbitration panel's decision, while Henrik Stenson was sacked as Ryder Cup captain after joining the Saudi-funded breakaway.

Those four players played a key part in Europe's Ryder Cup success over the last 20 years but at a press conference ahead of this year's victory, McIlroy did not appear as concerned about their absence in Rome as he would be about Rahm's in 2025.

"It's certainly a little strange not having them around," he said. "But I think this week of all weeks, it's going to hit home with them that they are not here. I think they are going to miss being here more than we're missing them."

And the Northern Irishman was quick to defend his position when questioned on social media about his differing approach to those players and the 29-year-old Spaniard.

"Which is very true… we didn't NEED any of the others in Rome and we didn't miss them," he said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "We'd certainly miss and need Jon at Bethpage."

READ MORE: Confirmed: Jon Rahm jumps ship to join controversial but lucrative LIV Golf Tour