'No one player is bigger than the team' — McIlroy shocked by Rahm's refusing “generous deal”

Shane Lowry of Team Europe celebrates with Jon Rahm at Bethpage State Park. Photo by Michael Reaves/PGA of America

Rory McIlroy is stunned Jon Rahm has turned down a “generous deal” from the DP World Tour that could jeopardise his place in Luke Donald’s European Ryder Cup team at Adare Manor.

The Spaniard has refused to join eight LIV Golf colleagues in agreeing to pay his fines, drop his appeal, and play six DP World Tour events instead of the required four to keep his membership.

DP World Tour CEO Guy  Kinnings said at the announcement of Donald as captain for the third match running that Rahm’s situation was “pretty straightforward”.

“He either withdraws an appeal and settles fines or he goes through the appeal process – and that process is underway – and then we’ll obviously then have to go with whatever the decision is made in that appeal hearing,” Kinnings said

McIlroy agrees and pointed out that the Ryder Cup is bigger than any individual.
“Yeah, I mean I, geez, in my opinion, it's a really generous deal,” McIlroy said on the eve of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

‘Like it's a much softer deal than what Brooks took to come back and play on the PGA TOUR. Look, the European Tour can only do so much to accommodate these guys.”

The Holywood star expressed surprise that Rahm opted against signing the deal.

“And I, look, there's a reason eight of the nine guys took that deal, right?” McIlroy said. “I think it's a really good deal. Yeah, obviously Jon doesn't think so, and he's obviously well within his rights to think that way.

“But I just don't see what more the European Tour can do to accommodate these guys to retain their membership.”

Rahm has objected to two main aspects of the deal: being required to play six events instead of the usual four, and being told by the DP World Tour which two additional events he must play out of the six.

But McIlroy is surprised by Rahm’s stance, noting that his LIV Golf contract obliges him to play 14 events without the option to skip any.

On the two extra events he must play, McIlroy said such a requirement was not “a heavy lift.”

He explained: ”I mean, to retain your membership is four events on the DP World Tour outside of the major championships.

“Yes, okay, maybe, you know, maybe the European Tour gets to have a say in where those two events are, but I mean, I'm sure Jon doesn't want to go to (LIV Golf) South Africa next week, but he's going there.

“He signed a contract for LIV and he plays 14 events and the whole thing. Like I get all that. But the DP World Tour is well within its rights to protect itself as a members’ organisation and as a business.

“And if you asked any DP World Tour member about the deal that they have cut with the LIV guys, I think they would all say that it was pretty generous.

“So, and again, there's a reason that eight of the nine took it, because they probably think the same thing, and one guy thinks a little differently, and that's a shame.”

As for the possibility of Rahm missing out on next year’s Ryder Cup at Adare Manor, McIlroy said nobody was bigger than the team.

“Look, the Ryder Cup is bigger than any one person,” he said. “It's bigger than all of us. We come and go.

"Players are—we pass through the system. “We should all be grateful that we have a platform like the Ryder Cup that we can play on and that we can showcase our skills and be a part of something that's obviously way bigger than ourselves.

“So at the end of the day, it's about the team, and no one player is bigger than the team.”

As for Donald’s decision to try and make history by winning a third Ryder Cup in a row as captain, he was thrilled.

“When we talked, I mean, we sort of tried to go through the pros and cons and what would be the drawbacks, what would be,” McIlroy said.

“And I think at the end of the day, we all see the opportunity for him to go down as the greatest Ryder Cup captain ever, if we go on and win in Ireland.

“So I'm excited for him, I'm excited for the opportunity that he has, and obviously, I just want to be a part of that team to help him try to make that history.”