The DP World Tour Rule That Kept Rory McIlroy From Leaving

Rory McIlroy said Wednesday that a single DP World Tour rule — one that bars any player who resigns membership from ever captaining the Ryder Cup — talked him out of leaving the tour in 2019.

McIlroy, who holds dual membership on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, said he was prepared to give up his European membership that year to focus on an American-based schedule. A conversation with then-DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley changed his mind.

What is the DP World Tour's Ryder Cup captaincy rule?

Pelley told McIlroy that resigning his membership would permanently disqualify him from serving as a Ryder Cup captain or vice captain. McIlroy, who has long wanted the job, dropped the idea on the spot.

I nearly fell afoul of that rule.

The same rule stripped Henrik Stenson of the 2023 European Ryder Cup captaincy after he signed with LIV Golf, clearing the way for Luke Donald to take over. Other former European Ryder Cup stalwarts who left for LIV, including Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, remain barred from the captaincy under the same policy, even though they could still make a team as players.

McIlroy's comments came as Sergio Garcia, who recently announced his departure from LIV Golf to rejoin the DP World Tour next season, said he wants to be part of the Ryder Cup again.