Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are set to receive good news over their Ryder Cup eligibility – having ditched the PGA Tour and DP World Tour in favour of the riches on offer from LIV Golf.
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton will have the opportunity to participate in the upcoming Ryder Cup in the following year, provided they settle the fines imposed on them due to their “suspensions” while competing on LIV Golf.
However, the CEO of DP World Tour, Guy Kinnings, has recently revealed that there have been no direct discussions between all parties involved to reach a permanent peace agreement and put an end to the ongoing conflict within the sport. The LIV rebels, on a case-by-case basis, are given undisclosed suspensions, often lasting for one week, and fines of up to £100,000 for participating in events on the Saudi-backed tour without obtaining releases from the DP World Tour.
In light of this situation, Ryder Cup legends Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Sergio Garcia have made the decision to resign, rendering themselves ineligible for Team Europe. However, Kinnings has emphasized that their teammates Rahm and Hatton still have the opportunity to be in New York next year, as long as they fulfill the requirement of playing four counting events, including the Olympics, and maintain their eligibility.
Kinnings stated that the notion of Jon Rahm excluding himself from the Ryder Cup is incorrect. He believes that this was never the case. According to Kinnings, there seems to be a slight misunderstanding regarding the qualification criteria for 2023. As per the current rules, if a player is European, a member of the DP World Tour, and complies with the existing regulations – including accepting any penalties for not obtaining a release – there is no reason why players who have acquired LIV membership and maintain DP World Tour membership cannot qualify or be considered for selection. The current rules permit such a scenario.
Rahm will be able to serve his suspension during the LIV Adelaide tournament this weekend, in preparation for the Volvo China Open next week, even though he didn’t plan on participating. According to Kinnings, the bans are enforced regardless of whether he enters an event or not.
“After the suspensions are completed, he will still have opportunities to compete in specific events. With plenty of weeks in the year, this is not a loophole but rather a longstanding rule,” Kinnings explained.
The agreement reached on June 6 led to an unexpected ceasefire in the sport, but negotiations have not progressed much since then. Rory McIlroy is prepared to rejoin the PGA Tour policy board in order to facilitate the reunification of the sport. However, Kinnings disclosed that the key stakeholders – including the PGA Tour, the new PGA Enterprises company, US investors the Strategic Sports Group, the Saudi Public Investment Fund, and the DP World Tour – have not yet convened for a meeting.
“It is crucial to gather the right individuals with the right intentions in one room to work towards a resolution,” stated Kinnings. “This is the immediate necessity. Having the PIF investment in conjunction with North American investment would be a favorable outcome.”
We must discover a product that will benefit the game and be suitable for all parties, possibly even beyond 2026. It will require everyone to come together, make sacrifices, and find common ground in order to reach an agreement. The timeline for this process is uncertain. Rory’s decision to re-join the policy board is a positive development, and his input will be highly valuable.
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