Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm have both offered their verdict on Rory McIlroy’s U-turn on LIV Golf players returning to the PGA Tour.
Tyrrell Hatton, the new signing for LIV Golf, stated his intention to keep competing on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, while also providing his opinion on Rory McIlroy changing his stance on penalties for players involved with rival leagues.
Jon Rahm also shared his viewpoint on McIlroy’s U-turn regarding punishments for rival league players. McIlroy formerly acted as the unspoken representative of the PGA Tour and spearheaded the opposition towards the tour supported by Saudi Arabia.
The decisions made by European stalwarts such as Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, and Graeme McDowell to depart from the establishment in June 2022 for large sums of money were a source of discontent for the Northern Irishman.
He argued LIV players shouldn’t be involved in the Ryder Cup and was once filmed laughing after hearing the news Patrick Reed had slipped even further down the world rankings.
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Publicly, he traded insults Greg Norman and appeared as though he wasn’t going to change his mind.
But slowly, McIlroy’s stance has softened. His tune has changed and the 34-year-old admitted so before the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
He has now called for LIV players not to be punished if they wish to return to the PGA Tour.
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As far as the Ulsterman is now concerned, a diminished PGA Tour and LIV Golf League is not good for anyone.
How do Hatton and Rahm feel about McIlroy's U-turn? Let them tell you…
McIlroy also made the declaration any win going forward if he isn’t playing against the likes of the reigning Masters champion is now cheapened.
Hatton joined LIV in a last-minute move and will make his debut in Mayakoba, Mexico, for Rahm’s Legion XIII.
Asked about McIlroy’s comments, the Englishman said: “Well, I’ve spoken to Rory a bit in the past week and back in December.
“That’s kind of along the lines of what he said to me. It’s not a surprise to hear him say that in the media.”
Hatton added: “Ultimately, I would like to still be able to play events on the other two tours. But we’ll see how all that works out.”
Rahm told reporters in Mexico it was important for a player of McIlroy’s calibre to acknowledge the sport is evolving.
“I haven’t spoken to him a lot recently,” Rahm said.
“But he might have had a change in thought process, as in maybe with some of the things he said in the past.
“I think he might be seeing that the landscape of golf is changing and at some point you need to evolve.”
He added: “So I think he might be seeing that, and everybody is entitled to their opinion, but it’s nice to have the support from a player the calibre of Rory, especially those Ryder Cup remarks he made early on.
“I believe it is crucial to express this statement for the purpose of initiating change.” Rahm hinted at the fact that McIlroy had previously suggested changes to the Ryder Cup eligibility regulations, aiming to include the Spaniard in the 2025 competition at Bethpage Black.
Rahm and Hatton are still eligible for selection as they are still members of the DP World Tour.
Both players will be awarded points in order to secure their qualification through the major championships.