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Ryder Cup stalwarts Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia
are among 17 players from the LIV Golf Series who will
participate at this week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth,
where McIlroy is also playing.
Five members of Team Europe's contingent at last year's event
have joined the breakaway series.
"I wouldn't say I've got much of a relationship with them at the
minute," McIlroy told reporters on Wednesday. "But if you're
just talking about Ryder Cup, that's not the future of the Ryder
Cup team.
"They have played in probably a combined 25 or 30 Ryder Cups ...
The Hojgaards (Rasmus and Nicolai), Bobby Mac (Robert MacIntyre),
whoever else is coming up. They are the future of the Ryder Cup
team. That's what we should be thinking about and talking about.
"I haven't done anything different. They are the ones that have
made that decision. I can sit here and keep my head held high
and say I haven't done anything differently," he added.
The next edition of the Ryder Cup will be held at the Marco
Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome from Sept. 25-Oct 1 in 2023.
The Northern Irishman also aimed a dig at the LIV Golf members,
who play 54-hole events on the breakaway circuit but face the
prospect of playing four rounds at Wentworth.
When asked if he would be extra motivated to play in the final
pairing on Sunday alongside a player from the LIV Golf Series,
McIlroy said: "I'll be trying to win a golf tournament
regardless.
"They are going to be pretty tired on Sunday - it will be the
fourth day."
(Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
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