Rory McIlroy was always going to asked his views over a conflict that’s come to light between LIV Golf’s top star Jon Rahm and the DP World Tour over Rahm’s refusal to meet event mandates, coupled with the threat of denying the champion Spaniard European Ryder Cup eligibility.

Rahm’s dispute with the DP World Tour has escalated after the Spaniard accused the ­organisation of “­extorting” golfers over fines for competing on the LIV circuit. Rahm’s Ryder Cup future remains in peril with no resolution to the matter in sight, with insiders at the DP World Tour and Europe’s Ryder Cup fans baffled by his stance.

Eight other LIV players eight players in the same position – including Rahm’s Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton – agreed a deal with the DP World Tour, allowing them to play LIV events and remain in contention for Ryder Cup selection. Those players have paid fines and agreed to play in or publicise certain events.

McIlroy was asked his view after competing in Wednesday’s Arnold Palmer Invitational Pro-Am and the double Ryder Cup winning team-mate to Rahm didn’t hold back.

“I mean I, geez, in my opinion, it’s a really generous deal,” said McIlroy.

“Like it’s a much softer deal than what Brooks took to come back and play on the PGA TOUR. Look, the European Tour can only do so much to accommodate these guys. So, you know, if you want to play on the Ryder Cup you have to be a member of the DP World Tour.

“You have to be a member of the DP World Tour, you have to abide by the rules and regulations. And the rules and regulations were, okay, if you break the media rights agreement and you go and play in a conflicting event, you don’t get a release, you’re subject to fines. So the guys didn’t want to pay these fines, that’s fine.

“So then the European Tour said, okay, let’s try to come up with some sort of solution where you don’t have to pay the fines, so that we can ease that burden on you, but still retain your membership. And I, look, there’s a reason eight of the nine guys took that deal, right. I think it’s a really good deal.

“Yeah, obviously Jon doesn’t think so, and he’s obviously well within his rights to think that way. But I just don’t see what more the European Tour can do to accommodate these guys to retain their membership”.