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Ryder Cup: Rory McIlroy sees no difference in LIV Golf being excluded from European team

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 8/23/23

The subject of LIV Golf players being selected for the U.S. Ryder Cup team has been a hot topic for months now. But for Team Europe? Not so much.

And according to Rory McIlroy, their omission won't impact how his side competes in Rome next month.

"No, I don't think it would make a difference for us," the Northern Irishman told reporters this week ahead of the 2023 Tour Championship, via BBC Sport.

Rory McIlroy was asked about the Americans being able to select LIV golfers for the Ryder Cup, whereas the Europeans can’t.

“I don’t think that would make a difference for us,” he said.#TourChampionship @_PlayingThrough pic.twitter.com/rUUTA6lgvf
— Jack Milko (@jack_milko) August 23, 2023

The European team, which is the +165 underdog to win the big event at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, will be without event regulars such as Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood because they left the DP World Tour to join LIV Golf. Henrik Stenson was previously named captain of the European Ryder Cup team but was replaced by Luke Donald after he defected to the Saudi Arabia-funded golf circuit.

This isn't to say McIlroy is completely against every golfer who plays in Greg Norman's rogue league. He has been complimentary of U.S. team hopeful Brooks Koepka throughout the season and even reportedly mended his fractured relationship with Garcia over the summer. But it looks like he's still very much against LIV Golf having too big of a presence in the game -- especially when it comes to something as big as the Ryder Cup.

Rory McIlroy & Jon Rahm qualify for the 2023 Ryder Cuphttps://t.co/jokbcJrUew

(Photo Credit: Ryder Cup Europe)#DKTSports #RoryMcIlroy #JonRahm #EuropeanRyderCupTeam #EuropeRyderCup #2023RyderCup #44thRyderCup pic.twitter.com/Moxp9ugHdV
— DKT Sports (@dkt_sports) August 10, 2023

McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland are three of the six players who have already automatically qualified for Team Europe. Donald will announce his captain's picks on September 4, which is after U.S. captain Zach Johnson announces his own six selections.

The 2023 Ryder Cup tees off on Friday, September 29.

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