Ryder Cup doubts over Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton after LIV switch

Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton will still receive fines and suspensions from the DP World Tour for their move to LIV, in the latest indication that a lot of work needs to be done to earn the influential pair a place in the next Ryder Cup team from Europe.

A sports arbitration panel ruled last April that the DP World, formerly European, Tour was right to impose sanctions on members who appeared on LIV without securing release from their home circuit. The fines and suspensions vary in value depending on the impact on whatever DP World Tour event takes place in the same week that the golfers in question appear on LIV.

The framework agreement between the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour was intended to bring an element of peace to the sport, but schisms remain. Rahm, the Masters champion, and Hatton have moved to LIV in recent months as they maintain ambitions of representing Europe at Bethpage in 2025. For that to happen, a change will still have to be made in the approach to disciplinary matters by the DP World Tour.

From now on, the duo will be treated exactly the same as other DP World Tour members who accepted LIV’s overtures. While the fines are not particularly relevant, suspensions that could prevent Rahm and Hatton from qualifying for the Ryder Cup or prevent them from receiving wildcards into the joust with the United States itself are clearly significant.

The Ryder Cup issue will be crucial for Guy Kinnings, who will replace Keith Pelley as CEO of the European Tour Group in early April. Pressure to put in place a process that will allow Rahm and Hatton to play in New York will come from other members of the European team and the event’s sponsors, who do not want to see the Ryder Cup reduced due to the rise of LIV. However, there is also an insistence from some regular DP World Tour members that players should not enjoy the best of both worlds between existing tours and LIV.

The Ryder Cup was just one element of intrigue when PGA Tour player directors met PIF governor Yasir al-Rumayyan in the Bahamas on Monday. Tiger Woods was among those in attendance as the major parties tried to chart a path forward that combines the PGA Tour with those who fund LIV. This weekend’s Players Championship is one of the tournaments that has been significantly hurt by LIV’s progress, due to the major players being effectively banned from attending Sawgrass.

Not that Scottie Scheffler had reason to. The world number 1’s victory was his second in two weeks and represented a successful player defense. Comparisons have now been made to the once dominant Woods.

“Any time you can be compared to Tiger, I think it’s very special,” said Scheffler. “But I mean, I think the man is alone in our game. He really does. This is now my eighth tournament win here, having tied it in the Players Championships. I also have fourteen majors and about seventy PGA Tour events to catch up on.”