Rory McIlroy believes that players who have defected to the LIV Golf League may face difficulties in becoming future Ryder Cup captains due to their lack of connection with European players. McIlroy suggested that maintaining rapport with the upcoming generation of golfers is crucial for potential Ryder Cup captains, something that is hard to achieve for those now playing on a different tour. His comments came ahead of the BMW PGA Championship in Surrey, England, where he addressed questions about the ongoing relationship between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
McIlroy referenced the removal of Henrik Stenson as European Ryder Cup captain in 2022 after his move to LIV Golf and noted that veterans like Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, who have long histories with the Ryder Cup, may struggle to be considered for captaincy roles. While Poulter recently expressed his desire to captain Team Europe in the future, McIlroy questioned how LIV players can build relationships with younger European golfers when they are no longer active on the same tours.
He highlighted the efforts of current Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, who has worked hard to familiarize himself with European players by following the DP World Tour and attending tournaments in places like the Czech Republic and Switzerland. McIlroy emphasized that Donald's visible presence has allowed younger players to become comfortable with him, a key aspect of building a cohesive Ryder Cup team.
While McIlroy acknowledged that Poulter’s contributions to the Ryder Cup make him a strong candidate for captaincy, he reiterated that it’s essential for a captain to be present and actively involved with the team. Due to the current landscape, McIlroy suggested that LIV Golf players are simply not in a position to fulfill these duties, making their path to captaincy uncertain.
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