Justin Rose insists the Ryder Cup WON’T be ‘devalued’ if LIV Golf stars are banned from competing

Justin Rose believes the Ryder Cup will not be ‘devalued’ if LIV Golf players are not allowed to compete in this year’s competition in Rome.

American players who joined the Saudi-funded tour are ineligible as they have been suspended by or have resigned from the PGA Tour and are therefore not members of the PGA of America, which co-hosts the biennial contest. with the Ryder Cup Europe.

The possible composition of the European team depends on this week’s arbitration hearing in London, which will decide whether the DP World Tour can impose penalties for playing in LIV Golf events without receiving a required “conflicting event” release.

Rose, whose victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Monday boosted his chances of making a sixth Ryder Cup appearance, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “There’s so much strength at depth, I don’t think it’s devalued.”

People like to watch Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter. They bring a lot of passion. They will be missed, sure, but it is what it is.

Justin Rose believes the Ryder Cup will not be ‘devalued’ by the absence of LIV Golf stars

Saudi circuit golfers -such as Brooks Koepka- have been suspended by the PGA Tour

‘You have the powers that be, the traditional people who are still in control of golf, and you have an upstart league that is trying to bring a new idea and a rival product.

‘It’s all good either way, is it just that the two of them can fit together in this scenario?’

The rise of LIV Golf has caused a seismic rupture in the men’s professional game, with Rory McIlroy detailing how his close friendship with Sergio Garcia broke down.

However, Rose remains friends with the likes of Poulter and Henrik Stenson, who was stripped of the Ryder Cup captaincy after joining LIV.

“Poults and Stenson have been my partners in many Ryder Cup matches and we have won a lot of points together, so from that point of view I will miss them,” said the former US Open champion.

I have seen them socially. I still text and call guys. Each one can make their own decision, I don’t think badly of them for doing that and they are still my teammates.

“There are going to be consequences for that decision and obviously the rulings will determine if that is good or bad for them.

“One good thing from a Ryder Cup point of view is that this decision will be made soon enough and whatever the outcome, there will be time for relationships to heal. Clarity is what most of us want.

Henrik Stenson (centre) was stripped of the European team’s Ryder Cup captaincy after joining LIV Golf

LIV Golf has caused a seismic rupture in the men’s professional game, marring several friendships