In an open and honest press conference, Rory McIlroy expressed his sadness at how LIV Golf has affected his friendship with several Ryder Cup team-mates. George Cooper reports from Wentworth
Rory McIlroy has revealed no longer has “much of a relationship” with Ryder Cup teammates Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood or Ian Poulter as a result of their defections to LIV Golf.
Speaking ahead of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, McIlroy was asked whether his relationship with the trio has been able to survive given the constant disruption and ill-feeling caused by LIV, to which the Northern Irishman exposed their currently isn’t one at all.
“I don’t know. I have no idea,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I’ve got much of a relationship with them at the minute.”
McIlroy has played in a total of six Ryder Cups with the trio pairing with Poulter on six occasions and Garcia five. Off the course, the four-time major champion was also a groomsman at Garcia’s wedding in 2017, admitting the fractured friendship has now produced a sadness on his part.
“But I haven’t done anything different,” he added. “They are the ones that have made that decision. So I can sit here and keep my head held high and say I haven’t done anything differently.”
Garcia, Westwood and Poulter will all be sharing the Wentworth fairways with McIlroy at the BMW PGA Championship along with 12 other LIV golfers, whose participation has continued to aggravate DP World Tour players as well as the circuit’s CEO Keith Pelley.
Despite the fond Ryder Cup memories shared with the LIV trio, McIlroy now believes Team Europe must move on from the likes of Garcia, Westwood and Poulter and instead look to the continent’s up-and-coming talents.
“If you’re just talking about Ryder Cup, that’s not the future of the Ryder Cup team,” McIlroy explained. “The Hojgaards, Bobby Mac, whoever else is coming up. They are the future of the Ryder Cup team. That’s what we should be like thinking about and talking about.”
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