Jon Rahm didn’t mince words Tuesday when he spoke at Emirates Golf Club ahead of the DP World Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic. He intends to be a member of the European Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black this September.
Of course, Rahm’s intentions and desires could hit a roadblock given the 30-year-old Spaniard’s DP World Tour membership and Ryder Cup eligibility hinge his appeal against fines and suspension he’s received in the last year. As a reminder, LIV golfers receive a one-tournament suspension and a £100,000 fine for every LIV tournament they play at the same time as DP World Tour events. But in the meantime, Rahm, Tyrell Hatton, and Adrian Meronk all remain eligible to play on the DP World Tour until a third-party arbiter renders a verdict on the legality of those sanctions. As such, all three will be eligible for European captain Luke Donald to select this fall. If the case is heard before September, their Ryder Cup chances could evaporate.
On Tuesday, Rahm, who does not intend to pay the fines, made a plea for the appeal not to be heard before the Ryder Cup.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, but I can tell you my plan is to be on that team at Bethpage,” Rahm said.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen, and I’m hoping they don’t try to settle the appeal before the Ryder Cup. I don’t think that would be good for anybody. But my plan is to be at Bethpage.”
Since this appeal is similar to a 2023 ruling, which decreed the DP World Tour could fine and suspend LIV players, it’s reasonable to believe that Rahm’s appeal will eventually meet the same fate.
DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings said in November he doesn’t know when the hearing will occur, and the league will not try to move it to accommodate Ryder Cup decisions.
The two-time major winner also took time on Tuesday to campaign for Sergio Garcia to be a member of the 2025 Ryder Cup team. Garcia paid his DP World Tour fines in November and plans to return to the European circuit at the Bahrain Championship at the end of the month.
Garcia will likely have to rely on a captain’s pick from Donald to make his 11th Ryder Cup. Given LIV’s 14-week schedule and Garcia’s uncertain major status outside of the Masters, it’s unlikely there will be enough opportunities for Europe’s all-time points leader to qualify. But even if Garcia needs a captain’s pick, Rahm is adamant he should have a place on the team.
“Sergio Garcia can hit it tee-to-green better than anybody on the planet,” Rahm said Tuesday. “It’s that simple. He’s still that good and he’s still very valuable.
“I believe there’s a place for Sergio there. I think there will be a place for Sergio on the Ryder Cup any given time. It’s just a matter of time now, letting the clubs do the talking.”
