Former Ryder Cup teammates Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood have taken aim at Rory McIlroy after the Holywood golfer claimed that Henrik Stenson leaving for LIV Golf was the best thing to happen to the 2023 European team.

It follows McIlroy's comments calling on the DP World Tour to change its rules to allow Jon Rahm to represent Europe at the next Ryder Cup at Bethpage in 2025.

McIlroy, once one the chief critics of the LIV Golf tour, has softened his stance about the decision of players to join the breakaway circuit in recent months.

Read more: Rory McIlroy clarifies stance on golf's new 'rollback' ruling

And when it was announced on Saturday that Rahm had joined the Saudi-backed tour in a €525million deal, McIlroy was quick to call on rule changes to allow the Spanish superstar to compete for Europe again.

"Jon is going to be in Bethpage in 2025 so, because of this decision, the European Tour are going to have to rewrite the rules for Ryder Cup eligibility," McIlroy told Sky Sports.

"There's absolutely no question about that - I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team.

"I'm going to miss competing against him week in, week out. He has got so much talent, he's so tenacious and he's a great team-mate in the Ryder Cup. The thing that I've realised is that you can't judge someone for making a decision that they feel is the best thing for them.

"Is it disappointing to me? Yes, but the landscape of golf changed on June 6, when the framework agreement was announced, and I think because of that it made the jump from the PGA Tour to LIV a little bit easier for guys.

"They let the first guys really take the heat and then this framework agreement legitimised basically what LIV was trying to do, then I think it's made it easier now if that's really what you want to do.

"My opinion now is that there's only one great team event in golf, and that's the Ryder Cup, and that's never going to change. But if the public wants some more team competition, then you know you have to cater for what the public demands.”

This prompted Lou Stagner, a prominent golf statistic expert, to ask McIlroy, seemingly tongue-in-cheek, if he wanted the rules changed so that Henrik Stenson could become captain.

Stenson of course was to be the European captain for this Ryder Cup in Rome until his move to LIV Golf saw him stripped of his captaincy.

Somewhat surprisingly, McIlroy took Stagner's bait and answered: "The best thing to happen to the 2023 Euro Ryder Cup team was Henrik going to LIV!"

The Holywood man's reply perked the ears of many, including some of Stenson's LIV Golf compatriots, reports the Irish Mirror.

Poulter, McIlroy's former European teammate, sarcastically said: "Guys calm down… This is a parody fake account... Rory McIlroy wouldn’t say this. it’s fake I promise you. He is a class act and wouldn’t say that about a team mate."

While Westwood similarly chimed: "Nice to see the season of good will in full swing! Merry Christmas!!!"

Poulter and Westwood were among the first wave of golfers to make the move to the controversial Saudi-backed league.

The English pair are two of Europe's highest-ever points scorers in the Ryder Cup but were not considered for this year's match in Rome.

Luke Donald took over the captaincy from Stenson and led Europe to a memorable victory over the United States.

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