Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick have a difference of opinion on the inclusion of LIV Golf players at the Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup is in focus this week, as the likes of McIlroy and Fitzpatrick get a look at the event venue, Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, at the Italian Open.
Ad The Italian Open is taking place on the same weekend as the latest LIV Golf event in Chicago. DS Automobiles Italian OpenMcIlroy holes out from the fairway for eagle after tough start at Italian OpenAN HOUR AGO Ryder Cup veterans such as Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia are now LIV players — and there is doubt as to whether they will be eligible to take on the United States next year.
McIlroy has been vocal in his criticism of LIV Golf, and has made it clear the Saudi-funded series’ contracted players should not be considered for selection. «I'm not sure what LIV's schedule looks like, if there's tournament on that week or where in the world they are playing,» he said. «But 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.» Ryder Cup team bonding starts as McIlroy and others attend dinner with captains Ryder Cup captain Donald urges young guns to create a legacy US Open champion Fitzpatrick has also been critical of LIV Golf players looking to compete on the DP World Tour.
But with regard to the Ryder Cup, Fitzpatrick would hold out the olive branch in a bid to ensure Europe bounce back from the mauling at Whistling Straits last year. “There's only one that I had a conversation with last week,” Fitzpatrick said of a chat he had with a LIV player at the BMW PGA Championship. “I told him I'd happily have him on the team.