Luke Donald says nobody in Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup crew is judging Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton for becoming a member of LIV Golf – and doubtlessly jeopardising their future participation within the occasion.
Final week, it was introduced England’s Hatton will be part of forces with Ryder Cup team-mate Rahm within the LIV Golf League after turning into the newest high-profile identify to affix the Saudi-backed circuit.
Talking on the WM Phoenix Open on Tuesday, Donald mentioned: “I haven’t seen too many of the guys. We still have a group WhatsApp chat, and we’re all participating in that chat that we created for Rome.
“There’s nothing hostile or something inside that chat. Everybody understands every particular person desires to do the perfect for themselves, and I do not suppose anybody is judging Tyrrell or Jon’s determination.
“Do I see them [on the team]? It is actually arduous for me to reply that query now.
“What I did so effectively in my captaincy final yr was simply management what I can management. We’re seven months out most likely till qualification begins.
“We have all this talk about being potential deals with the PGA TOUR, with DP World Tour, with the PIF. I have no idea what’s going to happen, and for the next seven months, I don’t really need to know what’s going to happen because qualification for the Ryder Cup won’t start until then.”
Rory McIlroy, beforehand among the many extra vociferous opponents of the brand new circuit, indicated after Rahm’s determination that the principles would now must be modified to permit the Spaniard to compete towards the USA at Bethpage in 2025.
Donald identified that neither Rahm nor Hatton would presently be ineligible for choice underneath the principles, however admitted he’s unsure whether or not they are going to be capable of line up in defence of the trophy.
“Well, again, Rory’s comment, he was a little inaccurate in terms of changing the rules for Jon to be a part of it because currently right now you have to be European and be a member of the DP World Tour,” Donald mentioned.
“Jon, Tyrrell, as far as I know are still members of the European Tour and would be eligible. Nothing has changed there. Even going back to last year, there was a couple guys playing on LIV that maintained their membership, and I kept an eye on everyone that was eligible for me to be able to pick.
“The fellows that determined to resign their membership, yeah, at that time I could not decide them, however at this second these are the principles, and to this point I am certain Jon, I am certain Tyrrell, they need to be part of it, and they’re going to hopefully adhere to regardless of the guidelines are that permits them to play within the Ryder Cup.”
When asked how he feels about European players defecting to LIV, Donald admitted there may yet be consequences.
“Yeah, Jon is somebody who determined that was your best option for him. Plenty of guys have determined that going to LIV is the selection that they had been snug with, and so they thought it was, once more, the best determination for them. I am not right here to guage that.
“Sometimes there are consequences to those decisions. There’s been a lot of talks about the world rankings and should LIV guys get it. Again, I think sometimes there are consequences to certain decisions, and I think a lot of these guys knew that going into it.
“Once more, I’ve a great distance till qualification begins, seven months or so. Lots can occur with the sport. It is persevering with to alter. It is persevering with to evolve. We do not know what is going on to occur over the following few months. Till I do know, I am not going to make any selections.”
Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp
You can now receive messages and alerts for the latest sports news, analysis, in-depth features and videos from our dedicated WhatsApp channel. Find out more here…
Watch Rory McIlroy in action throughout 2024 live on Sky Sports. McIlroy’s latest bid to complete the career Grand Slam at The Masters will be exclusively live from April 11-14 on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the majors, PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and more on NOW.
Get the perfect costs and e book a spherical at one among 1,700 programs throughout the UK & Eire