Jon Rahm believes Rory McIlroy has ‘realized at some point you need to evolve’ after his bombshell U-turn on LIV Golf… after he claimed defectors to Saudi-backed rival should NOT be punished for returning to PGA Tour
- McIlroy’s comments mark a “change” according to LIV defector Jon Rahm
- Tyrrell Hatton says McIlroy’s thoughts have changed in recent days
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Two of the most prominent LIV Golf defectors spoke about the PGA Tour’s most ardent defender when Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton were asked about Rory McIlroy.
Ahead of the first LIV Golf event of the season at Mayakoba, Mexico, the two Europeans were asked about McIlroy’s recent comments that LIV players should be able to return to the PGA without penalty.
It is a shocking turn for McIlroy given his hostility towards the Saudi-backed tour. But both Hatton and Rahm believe this is just part of the evolution of the Irishman’s thoughts on the current situation.
“Well, I talked to Rory a bit last week and in December,” Hatton revealed. ‘That’s somewhat consistent with what he said to me.
‘It’s no surprise to hear him say that in the media. Ultimately, I would like to be able to play events on the other two tours. But we’ll see how that all works out.’
Rory McIlroy believes LIV golfers should be able to return to the PGA freely
Jon Rahm says McIlroy’s beliefs mark an “important statement for change.”
Tyrrell Hatton said McIlroy recently spoke with him and personally shared the same idea
Rahm agreed, saying, “I would say pretty much the same thing along the lines of what Tyrrell said. I haven’t spoken to him much lately. But perhaps he has undergone a change in his thought process, as may be the case with some of the things he said in the past.
“I think maybe he sees that the golf landscape is changing and that at some point you have to evolve.
“So I think maybe he recognizes that, and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but it’s nice to have the support of a player of Rory’s caliber, especially those Ryder Cup comments he made early on. I think this is an important statement for change.”
Of course, McIlroy may also still be feeling the sting of the PGA’s shocking rumored merger with LIV – a decision that has led to the Irishman criticizing the PGA Tour’s leadership.
McIlroy will compete in his first PGA Tour event of the year on Thursday when he tees off in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California.