Rory McIlroy uncertain about LIV players serving as Ryder Cup captains
Rory McIlroy stated that golfers who have joined the LIV Golf League may struggle to become Ryder Cup captains due to their weakened connections with European players.
As is customary before a tournament, McIlroy was asked about the potential partnership between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf during a press conference for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in Surrey, England. Reporters also inquired about his thoughts on LIV players being selected for future Ryder Cup teams, particularly as captains.
Henrik Stenson was removed as captain of the European team for the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome after joining LIV in 2022. Most recently, Ryder Cup veteran Ian Poulter of England expressed his desire to one day captain the European team. Another potential candidate is Lee Westwood, who has made 11 appearances and earned 24 points, tied for third in Team Europe history.
McIlroy commented, "With the departure of players like Poulter and Westwood, how can the younger players build a relationship with them when they are never here? You can't see them. I believe that is a crucial aspect of the Ryder Cup and a captaincy."
McIlroy pointed to current Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald's efforts to get to know the other players before the European team faced the United States in Italy last year by keeping track of events on the DP World Tour. Donald will lead the European team again in September 2025 at the Bethpage Black Course in New York.
"You can see what Luke has been doing in recent years. He has really made an effort... He played in the Czech Republic and was in Switzerland. He is making an effort to be present and make the players feel comfortable with him, especially the up-and-comers who have not yet had the chance to be on a team or try to make one," McIlroy stated.
McIlroy acknowledged Poulter's impressive track record makes him a worthy candidate for Ryder Cup captain, but he also said, "With the current state of things, you need someone who is present and visible as much as possible. Unfortunately, that just cannot be the LIV Golf defectors at the moment."
