Rory McIlroy’s Mellowed LIV Stance Takes an Interesting Jon Rahm Turn Amid Fractured Future:’ We Need Him’

Rory McIlroy has been adamant about Jon Rahm being his teammate at the 2025 Ryder Cup. After the Spaniard moved to the breakaway circuit, the Northern Irishman told Jamie Weir of SkySports that the European League has “to rewrite the rules for Ryder Cup eligibility,” for Rahm to make it to Bethpage next year.

It has been six months since McIlroy’s statement on Rahm and his Ryder Cup eligibility was made public. As the days have passed, McIlroy has also mellowed down his thoughts on LIV Golf. The Northern Irishman eagerly wants a unified future of golf and wishes the PGA Tour and PIF merger to finalize faster. Even though the future stays bifurcated at this point, does McIlroy still want Rahm to be at the 2025 Ryder Cup? “Absolutely.”

In an interview with Garret Johnson of Beyond the Clubhouse, Rory McIlroy solidified his stance that Rahm belonged to the European Team. Despite his recent low performance, McIlroy asserted, “I don’t see a world where Jon Rahm isn’t on the European Ryder Cup team. We need him. He is great in the team room. Everyone loves him.” The next time Europeans will be in New York, McIlroy expressed that they needed Rahm’s passion to tackle the fervent crowd.

Although McIlroy has been transparent about his wish to have Rahm’s presence at the 2025 Ryder Cup, can the Spaniard qualify for the Ryder Cup despite his defection to LIV Golf? The DP World Tour’s new CEO, Guy Kinnings, explained the rules for Ryder Cup qualifications.

Jon Rahm can still be part of the Ryder Cup?

Per Huy Kinnings’ statements, and the rules of the DP World Tour, Jon Rahm may qualify for the 2025 Ryder Cup. Kinnings explained that despite Rahm jumping ships to the LIV Golf, he was still part of the European League. Unlike the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour didn’t suspend his membership. On that basis, Rahm may still be among those who could be chosen by Luke Donald for the battle at Bethpage.

However, the Spaniard has been fined for every LIV Golf event he plays and has received a suspension for each event. Consequently, Rahm may be suspended from the European League if he cannot participate in four events this season, excluding the majors. This scenario might not occur, as the LIV Golf season will conclude by September, allowing Rahm time to fulfill the four-event requirement.

On the account of people questioning the eligibility criteria, Kinnings explained, “It’s not a loophole because that’s the rules we’ve always had and those are the rules we are going to continue to apply.” He cited that it was a misconception that Rahm had written himself out of the Ryder Cup after signing with LIV Golf.

There is a year till the next Ryder Cup starts and the qualification criteria for it has not been released yet. However, per last year’s qualification, Jon Rahm still has a hope to represent Europe at Bethpage.