It's complicated: Rahm's Ryder Cup dilemma
Spaniard has fines, starts and wife's pregnancy to navigate and remain eligible
Jon Rahm needs to fit in four DP World Tour starts this fall (Oisin Keniry/R&A via Getty Images)
Jon Rahm said his representatives have not spoken to the DP World Tour about reducing his commitment that would allow him to remain a member in good standing and compete for Europe at the 2025 Ryder Cup.
But you wonder if that is coming. And soon.
Rahm, the two-time major champion who shockingly signed with LIV Golf before this season, has said several times he hopes and expects to be able to compete for Europe at Bethpage Black next year.
In order to do so, he must pay all of his existing fines related to playing in conflicting events and play four DP World Tour events that are not majors both this year and next. Next week’s Men’s Olympic Golf Competition counts as one of the four.
Rahm said he has yet to pay the fines. But the bigger impediment to him remaining in good standing on the DP World Tour and thus being eligible for the Ryder Cup is playing three more events after the Olympics this season required to maintain his membership.
Rahm has yet to play any DP World Tour events this season. While there are fines and suspensions to deal with, the DP World Tour does not preclude him from competing, as is the case on the PGA Tour. Rahm opted not to play in early season events in the Middle East when he was eligible before he ever played his first LIV event in Mexico in February and thus started accruing fines after that.
Further complicating his situation is that Rahm’s wife, Kellie, is expecting a baby this fall, and Rahm said “it hasn’t been the easiest pregnancy.”
“We’re still in conversations with the tour,” Rahm said. “I haven’t been able to play any tour events, so we’re going to have to sort it out before I want to tee it up hopefully at the Spanish Open.
“At this point, I’m still waiting on what might happen with my wife and daughter that I don’t know if I’ll be able to play or not. So my fall is still a little bit of a question mark when it comes to playing golf.”
The Spanish Open is Sept. 26-29 and falls after the conclusion of LIV’s schedule earlier that month.
“It could very well be a chance, because it hasn’t been the easiest pregnancy, that I just simply don’t have the chance to tee off. My mind is not thinking on that right now.” — Jon Rahm
According to the DP World Tour, Rahm owes a “substantial” amount in fines due to playing in conflicting events. The figure was not disclosed but it is well into six figures.
A DP World Tour spokesman said that discipline matters are handled on a case by case basis, and not all fines or suspensions are for the same amount or time. Much of it depends on whether a LIV event conflicts with a DP World Tour event and where it is being played.
Tyrrell Hatton and Adrian Meronk, who also play for LIV and would in theory be interested in the Ryder Cup, have also retained membership and face the same penalties.
Earlier this year, DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings explained that the rules did not need to be changed to include players such as Rahm and Hatton in the Ryder Cup: “I think there has been a slight misconception because the reality is under the current rules, if a player is European and is a member of the DP World Tour and abides by the rules as they currently are — so, if you don’t get a release, there are sanctions and if you accept those sanctions and take those penalties and work with that, there is no reason why players who’ve taken LIV membership but maintain membership with the DP World Tour could not a) qualify or b) be available for selection.”
Rahm has remained a member of the DP World Tour and if there are any publicly imposed suspensions — sometimes an event or two — they can be served even if he had no intention of playing.
“I haven’t paid yet, but again, I just don’t know when I’m going to play,” Rahm said. “It could very well be a chance, because it hasn’t been the easiest pregnancy, that I just simply don’t have the chance to tee off. My mind is not thinking on that right now.”
It is unclear if Rahm is trying to work out a comprise with the DP World Tour. He said following his seventh-place tie at the Open that his representatives were not discussing a reduction in events.
Following the Spanish Open is the Dunhill Links Championship, the French Open and the Andalucía Masters, which is also in his native Spain. After that is an event in South Korea, followed by the final two Race to Dubai events of the season in the United Arab Emirates, for which Rahm would need to be eligible via its points system.
Rahm went 3-0-1 in Rome last year in Europe’s 16½-11½ victory over the United States.
This week he is playing in the LIV Golf UK event prior to heading to France for the Olympics where he’ll represent Spain along with fellow LIV golfer David Puig.