This year's Ryder Cup will be somewhat of a unique edition. For the first time in the event's, not all of the top players that would normally be eligible to the two teams will be available for selection.
Of course, that is all down to the emergence of LIV Golf in the professional game.
Golfers that joined the breakaway Saudi-backed venture could no longer feature on the PGA Tour or DP World Tour. For those who left the European entity, a court ruling a number of weeks ago completely ruled them out of any chance of competing on Team Europe in Rome in September.
However, things are not as clear for the American team. LIV Golf players are technically still eligible to make the team, although it had been assumed none would be selected due to the ongoing feud between those players and the PGA Tour.
In fact, Brooks Koepka looks highly likely to qualify for the event on the points list after his recent triumph at the PGA Championship.
Rory McIlroy has differing views on European & USA Ryder Cup teams
Rory McIlroy has been one of the most outspoken players when it came to matters related to LIV Golf, although this is something he recently said he would be stepping back from moving forward.
However, he has given his opinion on the brewing conversation relating to the Ryder Cup.
Ahead of The Memorial Tournament, he was asked about Brooks Koepka's likely inclusion on the USA team. The Down native said he would have no issue with it, although he sees things a bit differently when it comes to the European selection process.
I certainly think Brooks deserves to be on the United States team.
I think with how he's played, I mean, he's second in the US standings, [having] only played two counting events.
I don't know if there's anyone else on the LIV roster that would make the team on merit and how they're playing. But Brooks is definitely a guy that I think deserves to be on the US team.
But I have different feelings about the European team and the other side and sort of how that has all transpired and, yeah, I don't think any of those guys should be a part of the European team.
A number of high profile European players such as Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, and Ian Poulter have been very critical of their old tours in light of their move to LIV Golf.
A court ruling last month confirmed that the DP World Tour could fine players for each event they played in LIV Golf, leading to the affected players resigning their membership.
As a result, the relationships between those golfer and other former European teammates have deteriorated quite a bit. You get the sense that is what Rory McIlroy was getting at with his comments.
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