United States Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson has refused to rule out LIV Golf rebels turning out for his side in Rome .
The US side head to the Italian capital later this year, looking to win in Europe for the first time in 30 years. But the make-up of both teams are still undetermined with the fate of the players on the Saudi-backed rebel tour unknown.
The likes of Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and joint Masters runners up Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickleson all decided to move away from the PGA and DP World Tours last year.
LIV players have been indefinitely suspended by the PGA Tour, with the European based tour recently winning a landmark case against stars who committed “serious breaches” of their code of behaviour by playing in rival events without permission.
And while neither side have officially announced whether LIV golfers will be involved in September and October, Europe have adopted the more hardline stance by stripping Henrik Stenson of the captaincy following his defection.
But Johnson, 47, has admitted that nothing has been decided over Mickleson et al being part of the travelling party. "No decisions have been made," he said at the TPC Louisiana this week.
"There's still a lot of time left in that regard, and so many fluid factors involved," he added. "As far as personally making decisions, no."
"Those individuals that have left the PGA Tour, to my knowledge, are still members of PGA of America. There's a grace period involved there. I don't know the specifics."
With the opportunity to play on both the LIV and PGA or European tours ended by the ruling earlier this month, players are unlikely to be in a position whereby they will be selected automatically.
World number seven, Matt Fitzpatrick, who has strongly opposed LIV players returning to the main tours, has suggested he would be open to the likes of Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter being available for selection.
"Obviously I have just said there about not letting them back on the PGA Tour or DP World Tour, I completely agree with that, but the Ryder Cup is a completely different case,” he said in March.
"For me, I would want the 12 best players on the team. Hopefully I am one of those, to try and win win. That is what the goal should be, to try and win, not to be nice about who should be playing in my opinion."
European legend Paul McGinley admitted he may have been tempted by the riches on offer from LIV, but stated that those who made the jump should face consequences - including Ryder Cup absences.
"You know, in all probability, I may well have gone to LIV at 46, 47 years of age," McGinley explained ."If I’m offered $20, $30 million to go and play in a rival league, I’d have done it.”
He added: There’s consequences with big decisions. And these are big decisions. The Ryder Cup is partly owned by the European tour.
“These guys are involved in an entity that is now harming the European tour, financially. So, unfortunately, they’ve removed themselves from the Ryder Cup, as far as I’m concerned."
