Rory McIlroy tells LIV Golf rebels they’ll miss the Ryder Cup more than Team Europe will miss them

Straight-shooting Rory McIlroy has refused to extend the olive branch as he told LIV Golf stars they will miss the Ryder Cup more than Team Europe will miss them.

This is the first biennial clash between the Continent and the USA since 1995 that has been shorn of Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Serio Garcia. Despite Jon Rahm revealing on Tuesday Garcia is still playing a huge role in helping him gun down the United States, McIlory has doubled down on his distaste for the LIV rebels.

The Ulsterman, 34, said: “It's certainly a little strange not having them around. But I think this week of all weeks, it's going to hit home with them that, you know, they are not here, and I think they are going to miss being here more than we're missing them, so I think this week is a realisation that the decision that they made has led to not being a part of this week, and that's tough.

"The landscape in golf is ever-changing and more dynamic, and we'll see what happens and whether they will be part of it in the future. I always thought leading up to this week is when it's going to hit home that they are not going to be here.”

Justin Rose, who is a close friend of Poulter, added: “There's a lot of winning culture still in the team, with the people in and around the team, the captain, the vice captains, Thomas Bjorn, Luke Donald. Luke has got an incredible Ryder Cup record. The most winning from a percentage point of view. So the winning culture in our team is as strong as ever.