Rory McIlroy has again aimed some savage words in the direction of LIV Golf players as he continues to play a pivotal role in golf's civil war.
The Northern Irish star has already unveiled plans for his own 'golf league' venture with Tiger Woods, in a clear bid to attract a new audience to PGA events and stave off the threat of the Saudi-backed tour. And last week, at the BMW PGA Championship, McIlroy publicly argued that no defectors should be part of the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.
Henrik Stenson has already been stripped of the European captaincy over his own rebel move, whilst tournament stalwarts like Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Sergio Garcia had already moved over. On the American side, the likes of Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau are also seemingly ruled out.
But despite the potential for golf's greatest team event to be lacking a host of star names, the four-time major champion has doubled down on his stance, saying: "I have said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times, I don’t think any of those guys should be on the Ryder Cup team," he said, via The Independent.
Last September, the European team was routed 19-9 by a rampant USA in Wisconsin. And in a further dig at his long-time teammates, McIlroy urged new captain Luke Donald to select a younger squad this time around.
"I think we were in need of a rebuild, anyway," he said. "We did well with the same guys for a very long time but again as I just said, everything comes to an end at some point. I think Whistling Straits is a good sort of demarcation, I guess.
“I think the European Team has a core of six or seven guys that I think we all know are pretty much going to be on that team, and then it’s up to some of the younger guys to maybe step up. You’ve got your core there with experience in the Ryder Cup and played in a few, so I think you’re looking for some of these younger guys over the next 12 months to step up."
McIlroy, who despite falling short at Wentworth, dramatically edged out Scottie Scheffler in the finale of the Fed EX play offs last month, is himself a veteran of six Ryder Cups. He's finished on the winning side in four of them, and is certain to be automated pick of Donald next time around.
Even in the unlikely scenario of the PGA and DP European Tour permitting the involvement of LIV Golf players, few will be eligible for automatic selection. The rebel events don't yield ranking points, meaning players will also soon be in danger of missing Major championships.
