Brookline, Massachusetts: As the LIV discussion spilt over into another practice day at the US Open, reigning champion Jon Rahm was bombarded with questions about the new Saudi-backed circuit.

Rahm's responses were mainly familiar. "History and legacy have always been important to me, and the PGA Tour has both," the superstar Spaniard said of his dedication to the PGA Tour. He also held off on judging individuals who have defected for large sums of money, like mentor Phil Mickelson and countryman Sergio Garcia.

"It's a lovely recompense to then retire and sail off into the sunset," Rahm said of LIV's astronomically high financial incentive. "That's OK if that's what you want."

Nonetheless, Rahm couldn't help but "feel for Jay Monahan" and worry about the implications for golf's "greatest attraction," the Ryder Cup.

"I'm hoping the Ryder Cup doesn't suffer," Rahm expressed his desire. "I hope we don't lose sight of what the Ryder Cup is all about. That's one of my main concerns. It's a free event that we all participate in, and it's one of our favourite weeks of the year, win or lose. That, I believe, says a lot about the game and where I'd like to see it go."

Both sides have remained tight-lipped on whether players who join LIV will be allowed to compete or captain in the next Ryder Cup, which is still more than a year away. 

The PGA of America said in a statement last week that it "remains dedicated to the criteria that a player be a member in good standing of the PGA of America to be eligible to compete on a US Ryder Cup team." Beyond that, it would be irresponsible and premature for us to speculate on what might or might not happen in Rome 15 months from now."

Several players, including Dustin Johnson, have resigned from the PGA Tour, which grants them PGA membership.

Johnson, a five-time Ryder Cup winner who scored 5-0 last year at Whistling Straits, remarked, "The Ryder Cup is wonderful and something that has undoubtedly meant a lot to me." "I'm honoured to have represented my nation, and perhaps I'll get the opportunity to do so again." But I'm not the one who makes the rules."

Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Patrick Reed are three potential players who have already committed to LIV, while Mickelson, a 12-time team member, is expected to be named captain soon.

 Any Ryder Cup suspension of LIV members would be particularly harsh on the Europeans, given Garcia, Europe's all-time points leader,

 Several potential Cup players and captains took to the course in last week's LIV lid-lifter in London.

Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Martin Kaymer, Bernd Wiesberger, and Sam Horsfield were also on the list

 during the fact that Europe's two biggest guns, Rahm and Rory McIlroy, have been vocal opponents of LIV helps, Rahm is concerned about how the biennial event will do without several of the game's greatest names.

Will the guys who able to play in the Ryder Cup or not?" Rahm remarked. "Sergio, even if he doesn't break 90, he's a no-brainer pick in my eyes, right?" So, how is it going to play out? There are quite a few young Americans among you. Bryson went, and he'll undoubtedly be on the team in the future. Phil's captaincy is most likely in jeopardy right now. The PGA's position on all of this. 

The European side of things is still unknown to us. I have no idea what's going on with the European Tour or what's going on with me. Can a large number of people attend the Ryder Cup and other events? As I stated, I believe that a week like that is the core of the game." That is where we all like playing."