Earlier this week, four-time major champion Rory McIlroy admitted he had “changed his mind” about LIV Golf and no longer believed players should be punished if they returned to the PGA Tour.
LIV players are currently banned from playing on Tour, and because LIV tournaments do not receive world ranking points, fewer players from Saudi-backed series qualify for the majors.
Former Spanish world number one Jon Rahm, who is among the players who will make their LIV debut in Mexico, says McIlroy’s change of heart marks an “important statement for change”.
The reigning Masters champion said: “I haven’t spoken to [McIlroy] a lot recently, but he may have changed in his thought process, like maybe with some of the things he’s said in the past.
“I think maybe he sees that the landscape of golf is changing and at some point you have to evolve.
“It’s nice to have the support of a player of Rory’s caliber, especially those remarks about the Ryder Cup that he made at the beginning. I think it’s an important statement for change to be said .”
Rahm’s new Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton, who joined LIV earlier this week, added: “I spoke to Rory a little bit last week and in December. It’s no surprise there. ‘hear say [positive things] in the media.
“Eventually, I’d like to be able to continue playing events on the other two tours. But we’ll see how it all goes.”