Jon Rahm’s move to LIV Golf has made him richer than he ever dreamed, but it may have cost him the chance to play in the Ryder Cup, which could be the worst case scenario for the Masters champion.
The Spaniard shocked the world when he joined the Saudi-backed club in 2023 in a deal worth £450m.
Under the current rules of the prestigious tag team tournament, Rama faces a fine and tournament disqualification for each LIV performance.
Additionally, the 29-year-old and other LIV golfers will lose their cards if they do not play at least four DP World Tour events in 2024. As it stands, the rules will need to be changed by the next Ryder Cup, to be held in Bethpage, New York, in 2025.
For Ryder Cup advisory committee member Paul McGinley, this is proving to be a difficult task. In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, the Irishman spoke of his concerns that some of Europe’s best players may not be available next year.
“Under the current system, they don’t qualify,” said the Dubliner. “So if you want them to play, they have to change the rules, but there are a lot of hurdles to overcome before they are eligible.
“There’s a very strong feeling among the remaining players that the game is being torn apart and the product is being diluted because of them. When the product is diluted, it diminishes their value.” So there are differences on both sides.
And then there’s the Ryder Cup brand. Will things change if some top players are no longer able to play?
“Therefore, we need to strike a balance between keeping the Ryder Cup in the upper echelon where the best players are playing, but also being fair to players from both teams. So it’s a bargaining position. Rahm is a two-time major champion and is preparing to defend his Masters title in April.
He emphasized how important the Major and Ryder Cup are to him and his career, and stressed that the possibility of him missing next year’s tournament is concerning. He was a member of Team Europe, which defeated Team USA 16.5 to 11.5 in 2023, and the golfer will no doubt be eager to help the team successfully defend the trophy.
Rahm’s desire to play in the Ryder Cup was echoed by European teammate Rory McIlroy, who expressed his desire to change the rules to accommodate LIV players. After confirming Rahm’s transfer, McIlroy said: “With this decision, the DP World Tour will have to rewrite the Ryder Cup eligibility rules, as John will be playing at Bethpage in 2025.” There’s no question about it. I really want John.” Rahm will join the next Ryder Cup team. “I’m going to miss competing against him week in and week out.
He’s got great talent, he’s very tenacious and he’s been a great teammate in the Ryder Cup. I learned that I can’t criticize people who make decisions that I believe are best for them. »
