LIV Golf’s chief executive has claimed the breakaway league are working with the DP World Tour to find a solution to Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton’s Ryder Cup conundrum.
Both players joined the PIF-backed league for the 2024 season but did so knowing they would be fined and suspended for competing in LIV events without tournament releases from the DP World Tour.
Until now, LIV’s Saudi financiers have been paying off the fines racked up by their players and it is understood more than $20m has already been handed over to Wentworth HQ.
It is been confirmed by several LIV players this will change from next season and those wanting to remain members of both tours will have to settle fines out of their own pockets.
Rahm and Hatton have no intention of paying off the fines and lodged an appeal with a sports arbitrator in September 2024.
Tyrrell Hatton
The appeal is yet to be heard some 15 months later and many believe will be unsuccessful given the precedent that was set in May 2023 when Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood et al lost their cases.
The delay in the process allowed Rahm and Hatton to reach the minimum number of starts required to be considered for the 2025 European Ryder Cup team.
Hatton qualified for Luke Donald’s triumphant side automatically whilst Rahm relied on a captain’s pick, joining Matthew Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg.
English golfer Eddie Pepperell recently claimed he has heard rumours that Rahm and Hatton’s appeal will finally be held next April.
Should the result go as expected, then it would mean there is a very real chance both players won’t be representing Europe at Adare Manor in 2027.
Jon Rahm
LIV Golf’s chief executive, Scott O’Neil, has told Telegraph Sport that the league is having discussions with the DP World Tour to prevent this from happening.
O’Neil also addressed rumours that Brooks Koepka may sit out the 2026 LIV Golf season.
“This is something that needs to be settled, and I’m looking forward to that day,” O’Neil told TS of the Rahm and Hatton situation.
“We’re having constructive conversations with Guy Kinnings [the DP World Tour chief executive] and his team.
“We are hoping that before the season starts, we can all come together in the best interest of golf and put this behind us.”
Rahm and Hatton were instrumental in Europe’s 15-13 away victory at Bethpage Black.
The Spaniard picked up three points whilst Hatton delivered half a point more, including a crucial tie in the Sunday singles against Collin Morikawa that saw Europe win the Ryder Cup outright.
The 2027 Ryder Cup matches will be played at Adare Manor in Ireland.
What has Jon Rahm said about the fines?
Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm joined LIV Golf in December 2023, seven months after the DP World Tour won their case against the likes of Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia.
The Spaniard has not spoken too often about the situation or why he feels so strongly.
There is speculation that Rahm is angry at being fined for events that he wouldn’t ordinarily participate in.
Before LIV Golf’s event in Chicago, Rahm said: “I’m not a big fan of the fines. I’ve been outspoken about the fines.
“I don’t intend to pay the fines and we keep trying to have a discussion with them about how we can make this happen.”
Rahm made those comments amid reports LIV Golf officials offered to clear the fines owed to the circuit by its players and change their schedule to avoid clashes.
The proposal was rejected by the DP World Tour.
Rahm told reporters before the BMW PGA Championship that he “completely forgot” about the fines.
“Decision bigger than Ryder Cup”
Tyrrell Hatton
Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley weighed in on the situation with Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton at the beginning of November.
McGinley told bunkered the situation was “tricky”, adding: “This decision and strategy of the DP World Tour is much bigger than the Ryder Cup in this instance.
“I’m not involved or not on the board at the moment but it’s a tricky situation. On one side we’ve got the strategic alliance and the importance of hitching a wagon with the PGA Tour has been clear to see in the last few years.
“I believe that’s a very good deal for the DP World Tour.
“Then on the other side, we’ve got some of our stellar players who are awaiting an appeal. We may well not have them as part of our tour.
“If they’re not part of that, they won’t be part of the Ryder Cup in Adare. It will be a big body blow to our chances of attaining the Ryder Cup in Adare if we don’t have Hatton and Rahm.
“It would have been very hard to win that Ryder Cup in Rome without Rahm and Hatton on the team.
“But it’s a much bigger decision than: ‘Are they going to be banned or not?’
“The European Tour has to look at the big picture here.”