By Rahul Banerji
A vociferous opponent of LIV Golf, Northern Ireland golfer Rory McIlroy earlier in the week expressed regret that three European stalwarts would be absent from this autumn’s Ryder Cup.
At the ongoing Wells Fargo Championship where he made the cut on the line on Friday, McIlroy said Europe would miss the services of Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter in Rome.
The three, and tour veteran Richard Bland all resigned from their DP World Tour membership earlier this week.
“I think it’s a shame, right?” the world number three said.
“I think it’s a shame that you’ve got the highest points score ever in the Ryder Cup and two guys that when they look back on their career that’s probably going to be at least a big chunk of their legacy is the roles that they have played in the Ryder Cup for Europe.
“For those three guys to not captain Europe one day, it’s a shame. But as the DP World Tour said in their statement, at the end of the day that was their choice, and they knew that these were potentially going to be the consequences of those choices and of those actions and here we are.
“Yeah, it’s certainly a shame.”
Record scorer
McIlroy was referring to Garcia’s record as the most successful Ryder Cup player in terms of points scored, while Westwood has 11 appearances in all at the biennial competition with seven title to his credit.
McIlroy himself is a member of four Ryder Cup-winning teams in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018 in six appearances (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 202) and has earned 14 points in an overall record of 12 wins, 12 losses and four halves.
Added Europe captain Luke Donald, who replaced Henrik Stenson when the Swede too signed up with LIV Golf, “I played with all three and they’ve been stalwarts of, and given a lot to, both the Ryder Cup and European Tour.
“It is a shame. They’ve got a lot of history when it comes to the Ryder Cup. “Ultimately this is their choice and I wish them well.”
Over the years, Garcia has racked up 28.5 points in Ryder Cup play while Poulter has been an ever-present thorn in the side of US teams.
Between them, Garcia, Poulter and Westwood played in 28 Ryder Cups while Westwood was also vice-captain in Europe’s 2018 victory at Le Golf National in Paris.
The 2023 edition of the biennial US-Europe showdown takes place at Rome’s Marco Simone Golf and Country Club from September 29 to October 1.
Reacting to the resignations, the DP World Tour thanked the four for their contributions, “and in particular to Sergio, Ian and Lee for the significant part they have played in Europe’s success in the Ryder Cup over many years.
“Their resignations, however, along with the sanctions imposed upon them, are a consequence of their own choices.
“As we have consistently maintained throughout the past year, the Tour has a responsibility to its entire membership to administer the member regulations which each player signs up to.”
Different tune
That is a considerable comedown from McIlroy’s position ever since LIV Golf appeared on the scene.
During the peak of his anti-LIV outbursts last year, McIlroy told the London’s Guardian newspaper in an interview, “I think it is the first time in my life that I have felt betrayal, in a way.
“It’s an unfamiliar feeling to me. You build bonds with these people through Ryder Cups and other things. Them knowing that what they are about to do is going to jeopardise them from being a part of that ever again?
“There was a great opportunity for GMac (Graeme McDowell) to maybe be the captain at Adare in 2027. Most of Sergio’s legacy is Ryder Cup-based, same with Poulter, Westwood.
“I would like to think the Ryder Cup means as much to them as it does to me. Maybe it does. But knowing what the consequences could be, I just could never make that decision.
“OK, it might not be 100% certain but that it could be the outcome? It just isn’t a move I would be willing to make. I thought they felt the same way.
“I feel like the place where they have been able to build their legacy and build their brand, they have just left behind.
“You could make the same argument about me, I started in Europe and went to America but I have always been supportive of the traditional system.
“If people felt so aggrieved about some things, I’d rather be trying to make those changes from inside the walls than trying to go outside and be disruptive.”
Also read: Resignations rob Europe of three Ryder Cup stalwarts
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