Earlier this week, four-time major champion Rory McIlroy admitted he had “changed his tune” on LIV Golf and no longer thinks players should be punished if they return to the PGA Tour.

LIV players are currently banned from playing on the Tour, and with LIV tournaments not receiving world ranking points, fewer players on the Saudi-backed series are qualifying for the majors.

Spain’s former world number one Jon Rahm, who is among the players who will make their LIV debut in Mexico, says McIlroy’s change of heart marks an “important statement for change”.

The reigning Masters champion said: “I haven’t spoken to [McIlroy] a lot recently, but he might have had a change in thought process, as in maybe with some of the things he said in the past.

“I think he might be seeing that the landscape of golf is changing and at some point, you need to evolve.

“It’s nice to have the support from a player the calibre of Rory, especially those Ryder Cup remarks he made early on. I think that’s an important statement for change to be said.”

Rahm’s new Legion XIII team-mate Tyrrell Hatton, who joined LIV earlier this week, added: “I’ve spoken to Rory a bit in the past week and back in December. It’s not a surprise to hear him say [positive things] in the media.

“Ultimately, I would like to still be able to play events on the other two tours. But we’ll see how all that works out.”