and relax the rule that prohibits them from one day being European Ryder Cup captains, this story from Rory McIlroy probably killed their chances. Speaking before this week’s DP World Tour event in Abu Dhabi, McIlroy told the media about a conversation he had with then tour CEO Keith Pelley in which he said he was thinking of giving up his DP World Tour membership in 2019 to focus on playing the PGA Tour. He could do what he pleased, Pelley said, before reminding Rory of the tour regulation passed in 2017 that permanently bans players who resigns or declines tour membership from serving as a Ryder Cup captain or vice captain. “So,” McIlroy noted, “I nearly made that choice and having that chat with Keith Pelley and knowing the rules, I was like, well, of course I want to be a Ryder Cup captain one day. There was no decision to be made.” Given the sacrifice McIlroy made, and the loyalty he showed to the tour, it’s hard to think tour officials will ever alter the rule for the four LIV defectors. Here's what else McIlroy had to say about the DP World Tour and its handling of the LIV Golf situation.