Several members of past European Ryder Cup teams have left to join LIV Golf.

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Rory McIlroy, who’s just once again become the number one golfer in the world, has said that he feels “betrayed” by the departure of his former teammates.

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In an interview with the Guardian, the 33-year-old spoke out against the players he used to have a strong bond with.

“It’s a weird thing. I think it is the first time in my life that I have felt betrayal in a way. It’s an unfamiliar feeling to me. You build bonds with these people through Ryder Cups and other things.

Them knowing that what they are about to do is going to jeopardize them from being a part of that ever again?”

Many of the former European Ryder Cup players such as Graeme McDowell, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter would have had a chance to be future Ryder Cup captains.

Stenson gave up his captaincy this year to join LIV. Garcia has more Ryder Cup victories than any European player in history and was a surefire future captain. McDowell would have been a great candidate for captaincy in Ireland in 2027. Poulter and Westwood would undoubtedly be considered in the future as well due to their Ryder Cup history.

The fact that these European golf stars gave up on future Ryder Cup glory didn’t sit right with McIlroy.

‘There was a great opportunity for GMac (Graeme McDowell) to maybe be the captain at Adare in 2027. Most of Sergio’s legacy is Ryder Cup-based, same with Poulter and Westwood. I would like to think the Ryder Cup means as much to them as it does to me. Maybe it does. But knowing what the consequences could be, I just could never make that decision.”

“OK, it might not be 100% certain but that it could be the outcome? It just isn’t a move I would be willing to make. I thought they felt the same way.”

Back in June, Golf Monthly reported that the relationship between McIllroy had grown “bitter and personal” over Garcia’s decision to join LIV Golf.

The pair were once a legendary Ryder Cup tandem, and McIlroy even served as an usher in Garcia’s wedding.

Garcia isn’t the only European player who no longer has a personal relationship with McIlroy after the LIV fallout.

Last month, Rory said to Sportsmail: “I wouldn’t say I’ve got much of a relationship with them at the minute. But if you’re talking about Ryder Cup, that’s not the future of the Ryder Cup team.”

‘The future of the Ryder Cup is the Højgaards (Danish twins Rasmus and Nicolai), Bobby Mac (Robert MacIntyre), whoever else is coming up. Like they are the future of The Ryder Cup Team. That’s what we should be like thinking about and talking about.”

The upcoming year will undoubtedly bring more uncertainty to the golf landscape, but one thing remains clear: Rory McIlroy is fully committed to the PGA Tour and will continue to be outspoken in his opposition against everything LIV Golf.

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