Rory McIlory has been the face of the resistance to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league for a few years now. One of the most ardent supporters of the PGA Tour, McIlroy has gone to great lengths to help secure the future of the world’s premier golf circuit and is on record with his disdain for those who defected.
He also appears to be softening his stance a little bit — at least when it comes to one LIV Golf player.
Ahead of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club outside Columbus, Ohio, McIlroy met with the media and discussed the upcoming Ryder Cup this fall. Less than a month ago he was totally against LIV defectors representing Team USA and Team Europe. But in the case of Brooks Koepka, McIlroy seems willing to make an exception.
Rory's answer today when asked about LIV players being a part of the Ryder Cup. pic.twitter.com/DOoJu41780
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) May 31, 2023
McIlroy isn’t wrong. Koepka has been phenomenal in majors this year, winning his third PGA Championship and finishing tied for second at the Masters. It’s Rory’s sentiment that’s shocking. He’s still taking a hard line on European LIV players in the Ryder Cup — which would theoretically help the chances of McIlroy’s team winning — but opening the door for Koepka is curious to say the least.
After the Masters, Koepka told reporters he may not have joined LIV if he knew he could play at this level and regain his health. Then he went out and won the PGA Championship.
We know it would cost an obscene amount of money for any of the LIV stars to break their contracts, but the softened rhetoric when it comes to Koepka has to make golf fans wonder if there’s a still a place for him on the PGA Tour again one day after all.
Obviously the United States has a much better chance in the Ryder Cup with Koepka on the roster than not. The Americans haven’t won back-to-back Ryder Cup tournaments since the 1991 and 1993 editions. With a chance to do so in 2023 — and on European soil, no less — it’s fair to wonder if the idea of Koepka joining the team is gaining popularity on this side of the Atlantic.
Either way, it’s another fascinating development in a golf saga that doesn’t seem likely to fade anytime soon.
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