Rory McIlroy on LIV golfers: 'I've said it a hundred times, I don't think any of those guys should be on the Ryder Cup team'

All summer long, four-time major champion Rory McIlroy has remained one of the most notable and staunchest critics of the LIV Golf Series and those who have made the move to the breakaway league. One week ago, when asked about his current relationship with former Ryder Cup teammates who have gone to LIV Golf, he said "I wouldn't say I've got much of a relationship with them at the minute" among other things.

On Wednesday, as many of Europe's top players get ready to compete in the upcoming Italian Open outside Rome -- the host of next year's Ryder Cup -- McIlroy was dishing out more criticism on the Saudi Arabia-backed league. According to an Associated Press and ESPN report, much of the pre-Italian Open discussion has been about who should and should not be allowed on the 2023 Ryder Cup squad.

"I have said it once, I've said it a hundred times: I don't think any of those guys should be on the Ryder Cup team," McIlroy said.

Other members of the European Tour and/or PGA Tour have slightly different views than McIlroy, such as U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick and Europe captain Luke Donald.

"I just want to make sure that we win," Fitzpatrick said, noting that he was open to having LIV Golfers on the European team. "I just want to win the Ryder Cup. ... I want the 11 best guys we can get. ... I'm not really too bothered about where they are going to come from."

Donald said that he's in "limbo," as everyone awaits for the conflict to be decided in court. The 45-year-old was named captain in August after Henrik Stenson was stripped of the title in July following his decision to join LIV Golf.

"Nothing that's really changed since I was appointed," Donald said. "We're still a little bit in limbo. We don't know what's going to happen with the lawsuit so I'm trying to not really put too much energy into it. Once we get a clearer picture, I can give you better answers."

Per the Associated Press and ESPN report, European Ryder Cup "stalwarts" Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter were among those LIV golfers who are not taking part in the Italian Open. The DP World Tour event takes place from Thursday through Sunday.