Rory McIlroy admitted it was a shame Jon Rahm did not take the “generous” deal offered by the DP World Tour which would have removed any barrier to the Spaniard’s eligibility for the 2027 Ryder Cup.
Eight LIV players, including Tyrrell Hatton – a winner alongside McIlroy and Rahm in Rome and New York – accepted the terms which saw them pay all outstanding fines, drop their appeals and commit to playing extra events on tour.
Rahm rejected the offer, claiming the DP World Tour was “extorting” players, and will continue to appeal the reported £2million-plus fines he has incurred playing in competing events.
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Jamie Weir looks at Jon Rahm’s comments on his frustrations with the DP World Tour and feels it’s looking like the Spaniard might not be part of the next Ryder Cup team.
“If you asked any DP World Tour member about the deal that they have cut with the LIV guys, I think they would all say that it was pretty generous,” said McIlroy.
“It’s a much softer deal than what Brooks (Koepka) took to come back and play on the PGA Tour.
“There’s a reason that eight of the nine took it because they probably think the same thing and one guy thinks a little differently and that’s a shame. He’s obviously well within his rights to think that way.
“The European (DP World) Tour can only do so much to accommodate these guys.”
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Jon Rahm explained his reasons for rejecting the DP World Tour deal, stating he doesn’t want to play six events.
‘Ryder Cup bigger than any person’
Should Rahm lose his appeal he would be liable for the fines, plus more incurred as he continues to play LIV events without an official release.
But if he continued to refuse to pay that would put his DP World Tour membership at risk and therefore his ability to play in the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor next year, when Luke Donald will try to become the first captain to win three times in succession.
“If you want to play on the Ryder Cup you have to be a member of the DP World Tour. You have to abide by the rules and regulations,” added McIlroy, who said being asked to play two events in addition to the four required for membership “isn’t a heavy lift”.
“Look, the Ryder Cup is bigger than any one person. It’s bigger than all of us. We come and go. Players pass through the system.
“I think we should all be grateful that we have a platform like the Ryder Cup that we can play on and that we can showcase our skills and be a part of something that’s obviously way bigger than ourselves.
“At the end of the day it’s about the team and no one player is bigger than the team.”
Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy together at the Ryder Cup
Donald hopes to have Rahm for next Ryder Cup
McIlroy’s comments came after Donald expressed hopes he will have Rahm available as he targets an unprecedented third successive victory as Ryder Cup captain in Ireland next year.
Donald hopes to have the two-time major winner in his side again.
“It’s the first day on the job so I haven’t talked to him yet but obviously I will talk to Jon,” said Donald.
“I don’t really want to comment as I know he has his own reasons but I look forward to catching up with him and I really hope he is available.”
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Luke Donald spoke to the Sky Sports Golf Podcast and confirmed he will captain Europe’s Ryder Cup team for a historic third time.
‘Opportunity to go down as greatest Ryder Cup captain’
Donald said McIlroy and Shane Lowry had started trying to convince him to return as Team Europe captain just a week after last summer’s famous victory in Bethpage.
McIlroy said: “At the end of the day we all see the opportunity for him to go down as the greatest Ryder Cup captain ever if we go on and win in Ireland, so I’m excited for the opportunity that he has.
“Obviously I just want to be a part of that team to help him try to make that history.”
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