The Northern Irishman said earlier this year that LIV players should not play for Europe against the United States.
However, after Rahm’s announcement, McIlroy was adamant that the Spaniard plays at Bethpage, New York in 2025.
And in reply to a BBC Sport journalist questioning his change of heart on X, McIlroy replied: “We need Jon.”
McIlroy was responding to a message posted by BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer Tom English, which read: “Rory’s singing a different tune now that it’s Rahm. Didn’t hear this kind of chat from him about the others who joined LIV.”
The world number two replied to that message, writing: “We didn’t NEED any of the others in Rome and we didn’t miss them. We’d certainly miss and need Jon at Bethpage.”
McIlroy’s about turn comes amid a turbulent time in the men’s professional game.
In June 2023 the PGA and DP World Tours announced they had a ‘framework agreement’ to merge with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), which bankrolls LIV and has pledged $2bn (£1.6bn) of support.
That agreement has a deadline of 31 December 2023 to be ratified, although the American government is examining the PGA Tour’s plans to take massive investment from Saudi Arabia.
On Rahm’s move, McIlroy told Sky Sports: “Is it disappointing to me? Yes, but the landscape of golf changed on 6 June, when the framework agreement was announced, it legitimised basically what LIV was trying to do, and I think because of that it made the jump from the PGA Tour to LIV a little bit easier for guys.”
‘Rewrite Ryder rules for Rahm’
World number three Rahm was unbeaten as Europe defeated the United States 16½-11½ to regain the Ryder Cup in Rome and McIlroy, who contributed four points to the victory, had earlier suggested Europe will have to “rewrite the rules” for eligibility.
Under current DP World Tour rules, Rahm would be eligible to play in the next contest but his switch to join the Saudi-funded LIV tour has put his participation at Bethpage in jeopardy.
