Rory McIlroy has issued his verdict on Tyrrell Hatton deciding to defect to LIV Golf ahead of the Saudi-backed tour’s opening event of the season.
LIV confirmed the worst kept secret in golf this week, with Tyrrell Hatton signing a £50 million deal. The Englishman has joined Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team with Caleb Surratt and Kieran Vincent.
Of course, as things stand, the news is a massive blow to the DP World Tour and Team Europe ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Rory McIlroy reacts to Tyrrell Hatton joining LIV
Rahm and Hatton looked set to be stalwarts of the side over the next couple of decades. And they would have almost certainly qualified automatically for Bethpage next year.
Rory McIlroy has spoken about how his stance on those who have moved to LIV has softened. And he appears to have no interest in being part of a Ryder Cup team which does not include Rahm and Hatton.
And, as reported by The Times, he insisted that he has no problem with Hatton’s decision to make the move to LIV.
“I had a long talk with Tyrrell on Sunday and completely understood where he was coming from,” he said.
“I’ve talked to him quite a bit over the past month. They negotiated and got to place where he was comfortable. I’m not going to stand in anyone’s way from making money, and if it’s what they deem life-changing money, like absolutely.”
Plenty of intrigue as breakaway tour’s season-opener looms
It is becoming much more normal for players to make the jump. And with golf’s traditional tours finding themselves around the negotiating table with PIF, McIlroy is probably wary of making too strong a statement as it appears that a truce will come at some stage.
The Northern Irishman has recognised that the division is no good for the sport. And as a European, it is no longer beneficial to rule LIV players out of the reckoning to make the Ryder Cup team.
It will be interesting to see what the latest batch of defections means for LIV’s appeal across the golfing landscape.
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