RORY MCILROY has revealed he feels “betrayed” by his former Ryder Cup team-mates joining LIV.

Rebels Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter look sure to be banished from the Ryder Cup.

Henrik Stenson was sacked as European captain after joining the Saudi-backed tour.

And McIlroy, 33, spoke to The Guardian about being let down by his old tour pals.

He said: “It’s a weird thing. I think it is the first time in my life that I have felt betrayal, in a way. It’s an unfamiliar feeling to me. You build bonds with these people through Ryder Cups and other things.

“Them knowing that what they are about to do is going to jeopardise them from being a part of that ever again?

“There was a great opportunity for GMac to maybe be the captain at Adare in 2027. Most of Sergio’s legacy is Ryder Cup-based, same with Poulter, Westwood.

“I would like to think the Ryder Cup means as much to them as it does to me. Maybe it does. But knowing what the consequences could be, I just could never make that decision.

“OK, it might not be 100% certain but that it could be the outcome? It just isn’t a move I would be willing to make. I thought they felt the same way.

“I feel like the place where they have been able to build their legacy and build their brand, they have just left behind.

“You could make the same argument about me, I started in Europe and went to America but I have always been supportive of the traditional system.

“If people felt so aggrieved about some things, I’d rather be trying to make those changes from inside the walls than trying to go outside and be disruptive.”

“This ‘us versus them’ thing has gotten way out of control already.

“If the two entities keep doubling down in both directions, it is only going to become irreparable. We are going to have a fractured sport for a long time. That is no good for anyone.”

The Irishman also claimed that Greg Norman has finally been able to fund his long-term aim of fighting against the PGA Tour.

He added: “I think they [LIV] have been misguided in how to spend the money.

“Out of all the ones who went, DJ seems to be the one who has accepted it the most. Maybe he is the smart one.”

“He [Greg Norman] has basically found people to fund his vendetta against the PGA Tour. I think he hides behind ‘force for good’ and all that stuff. This has been his dream for 30 years and he has finally found people who can fund that dream.”

McIlroy fought back tears as he returned to the top of golf’s world rankings last week with a successful defence of the CJ Cup.

The golf icon’s one-shot victory in South Carolina saw him become world No 1 again for the first time since July 2020.

He stormed past Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, who finished down the field in a share of 45th place.

Former world No 1s Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth were also among the also-rans.