Rory McIlroy calls for Ryder Cup rule change after Jon Rahm joins LIV Golf

Rory McIlroy has said Europe will have to “rewrite the rules for Ryder Cup eligibility” after two-time major winner Jon Rahm confirmed he was joining LIV Golf.

After previously saying he would not quit the PGA Tour, it was announced on Thursday that Rahm had performed a U-turn by switching to the Saudi Arabia-backed circuit in a deal thought to be worth around $500 million.

Rahm's former Ryder Cup teammates Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood were ineligible for Europe's win over the US in the biennial team competition this year after joining LIV Golf and resigning from the Europe-based DP World Tour.

The next Ryder Cup takes place in 2025 at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, and McIlroy was in no doubt that Rahm would be there.

“Jon is going to be in Bethpage in 2025,” McIlroy told Sky Sports after the Spaniard's move was confirmed.

“Because of this decision, the European tour is going to have to rewrite the rules for Ryder Cup eligibility.

“There's absolutely no question about that – I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team.”

McIlroy had previously said that no LIV players should be able to play for Europe at the Ryder Cup but the Northern Irishman admitted “the landscape of golf changed” when it was announced in June that PGA Tour, European Tour and LIV Golf had agreed a merger.

Under current rules, European players must be members of the DP World Tour – previously known as the European Tour – to be eligible to play.

But the threat of losing the skills of Rahm, who is the reigning Masters champion, has resulted in McIlroy performing his own U-turn.

Rory McIlroy : 9/10

“He has got so much talent, he's so tenacious and he's a great teammate in the Ryder Cup," he said.

“The thing that I've