Rory McIlroy against LIV golfers joining Team Europe at Ryder Cup, but thinks Brooks Koepka should play for US

Rory McIlroy has reiterated his stance about not wanting any LIV Golf players in Team Europe at this year’s Ryder Cup. It comes just a day after world No. 2 Jon Rahm suggested he would welcome players from the breakaway tour, including Sergio Garcia, into the team.

Ad Rahm said: “It’s a little sad that politics have gotten in the way of such a beautiful event. PGA ChampionshipRahm toils, McIlroy battles hard, Tom Kim takes mud bath in opening round of US PGA Championship18/05/2023 AT 20:17 “Again, it’s the best Europeans against the best Americans, period. And whatever is going on, who is playing LIV and who is not playing LIV to me, shouldn’t matter.

It’s whoever is best suited to represent the European side." McIlroy disagrees with Rahm, but surprisingly thinks Brooks Koepka — who plays on the LIV tour — should be in the United States line-up for the tournament, which begins at the end of September in Rome. “I certainly think Brooks deserves to be on the United States team," McIlroy said. “I think with how he’s played, I mean, he’s second in the U.S.

standings, only played two counting events. “I don’t know if there’s anyone else on the LIV roster who would make the team on merit and how they’re playing. But Brooks is definitely a guy who deserves I think to be on the U.S.

team." Koepka has only been able to gain ranking points through majors, and has left himself in a good place for Ryder Cup qualification against his compatriots with a second-placed finish at The Masters, along with victory at the PGA Championship. Those feats saw him rise to second in the American Ryder Cup standings — with 1,537 more points than third-place Xander Schauffele. 'Getting a text from Michael Jordan was pretty cool!' — Block reflects on