GUIDONIA MONTECELIO. Italy — For Rory McIlroyIts a flat-out no.
U.S. Open champion Matt FitzpatrickHe is open for LIV Golf players to join Europes Ryder Cup team in next years Ryder Cup.
Europe Luke DonaldWhile he is on the official tour, he said he was in limbo while he waited for the conflict to be settled in the courts.
As Europes best players prepare to play at this weeks Italian Open on Marco Simone, a course just outside Rome that will host next years Ryder Cup, there has been much discussion about who should and shouldnt be included in the 2023 team.
McIlroy, referring to the players who joined the Saudi-backed breakaway series, said Wednesday: I have said that once, I have said it a hundred thousand times: I don’t think any of these guys should be on a Ryder Cup Team.
Both sides of the Atlantic are currently involved in litigation involving the PGA European Tour and the PGA European Tour after LIV golfers were excluded. The divide between those who want to play on the traditional tours and those who want to join the lucrative breakaway series, is growing.
Fitzpatrick won his first major title this June and is now taking a neutral stance.
I just want to win Ryder Cup. … I want the 11 most talented guys we can get, said the Englishman who lost all three of his matches last year when the U.S. beat Whistling Straits, Wisconsin to set a new record. I dont really care about where they are coming from.
Fitzpatrick even reached out last week to a LIV participant at the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth.
Fitzpatrick said, I told he Id happily have… on the team, without naming the player.
Donald was re-elected captain last month. Henrik StensonHe joined LIV and was stripped of his title.
Donald stated, Nothing has really changed since I was elected. Were still a bit in limbo. We dont know what will happen to the lawsuit so Im trying not to put too much effort into it. I will be able to give you better answers once we have a better picture.
European Ryder Cup stalwarts Sergio Garcia, Lee WestwoodAnd Ian PoulterWe were among the LIV golfers who competed at Wentworth. None of those high-profile names made it to Italy.
McIlroy denied mentioning Stenson, but stated that he had already committed to playing at this event before Luke was the captain.
Ive had discussions and we are actually meeting for dinner tonight for team bonding and also to talk about the course, and how it should be set up to benefit the European team.
The course is located about half an hour from Rome and is run by Lavinia Bagiotti Cigna, a fashion designer. It has hilly terrain which should make it a stadium-like setting that is suitable for the Ryder Cup.
Youve got two drivable par 4s (Nos. McIlroy described the back nine as having 11 and 16.
McIlroys only previous appearance in Italy was when he won the European Amateur Championship in 2006 in Biella, northern Italy.
He said, So I have a 100% record in the country and Id love to keep that going.
McIlroy loves to stroll around Rome with his family, especially since his wife spent seven months studying in Rome. She knows her way around, he said.
McIlroy and his team are focusing on reducing the gap between the 19-9 whipping of the U.S. in Wisconsin and McIlroys main business.
McIlroy stated that the European team has a core group of six to seven men that we all know will be there. Then its up for some of the younger players to step up. I think that we were in dire need of a rebuild. We worked well with the same guys over a long period of time, but all good things must come to an end. Whistling Straits seems like a good type of demarcation.
Donald is paired up with rising Italians Guido MigliozziAnd Adrian MeronkFor the opening rounds of this weeks competition, a special thanks to, the Polish player who won in July the Irish Open.
Then there is Nicolai HøjgaardThe 21-year old Dane won at Marco Simone last season, a week after Rasmus, his twin brother, won in Switzerland.
Vice captain Thomas BjørnWith the 24-year old Norwegian, he is in a group. Viktor HovlandNo. 11 in the world golf rankings.
Donald stated, Im excited for their games. Ill be keeping an eye on some of their younger, more exciting talent to try and make this team.
Then there is Francesco MolinariThe hero of Europes 2018 victory, he is hoping to return to the team after missing 2021 due to back issues. He is coming off a Wentworth top-10 finish.
McIlroy stated, Having an Italian member of the team would be enormous.
Molinari stated that LIV issues will be a secondary concern at the Sept. 29-Oct.1 event next year.
Molinari stated that the Ryder Cup is a huge, important, and spectacular event and that it wont be affected by the conflict. Even if the situation doesnt resolve, I believe that everyones attention for that week will be on Ryder Cup.