Jon Rahm challenges fines levied by the DP World Tour as he advocates for his inclusion in the Ryder Cup.
golfer Jon Rahm initially declared on Wednesday that he held no intention of shelling out the fines accumulated due to participating in LIV Golf events, thereby nudging closer the likelihood of Team Europe participating in the upcoming Ryder Cup without one of its prominent players.
Rahm played a pivotal role in outplaying the United States team in Rome back in October, but to secure a place in Captain Luke Donald's team for the New York Ryder Cup, the 29-year-old must maintain membership in the DP World Tour, formerly known as the European Tour.
To keep his membership, Rahm must participate in three more events on the circuit prior to the season ending with the Tour Championship in Dubai on November 17.
However, Rahm risked being barred from participating in any DP World Tour tournament until he resolved or appealed the fines levied against him by the circuit for refusing to relinquish his participation in LIV Golf events conflicting with their own calendar.
Rahm had until midday BST (7 a.m. EST) to contest the penalties, allowing him to compete in the Spanish Open in Madrid on September 26. He submitted his appeal just before the deadline.
“Jon Rahm has a pending appeal against the penalties imposed on him, and in accordance with the DP World Tour’s Regulations, he is eligible to participate in the acciona Open de España presented by Madrid later this month,” stated a DP World Tour representative in a statement to CNN.
In doing so, Rahm emulated LIV Golf teammate and previous Ryder Cup colleague Tyrrell Hatton, who filed an appeal to participate in August's British Masters and bolster his chances of making Donald's team.
‘I’m no fan of the fines’
Ahead of LIV Golf's regular season finale in Chicago on Wednesday, Rahm expressed his intention to participate in his native tournament.
“I'm registered for the tournament ... However, whether I'm allowed to play or not remains to be seen,” he informed journalists.
“I'm no fan of the fines. I've been vocal about that. I don't plan on paying the fines, and we've been engaged in discussions about finding a solution.”
Rahm also expressed a desire to participate in the DP World Tour's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and Andalucia Masters, both scheduled in Scotland and Spain, respectively, in October.
Engaging in the Spanish Open would bring his total appearances to the required four to maintain his membership, with his participation at the Paris Olympics contributing equally.
However, Rahm faces limited flexibility. LIV Golf's finale in Dallas precludes him from the BMW PGA Championship, while his ranking of 118 in the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai rankings lags significantly behind the top-50 placement necessary to compete in the two season-ending playoff events in the UAE.
This leaves only the French Open and South Korea's Genesis Invitational as the remaining two DP World Tour events Rahm could feature in this season.
‘Rahmbo in the Ryder Cup is an absolute beast’
Rahm's teammate for two of his three Ryder Cup appearances, Ireland's Shane Lowry, is familiar with Rahm's caliber.
Rahm played a critical role in Rome, with two eagles during an extraordinary three-hole closing stretch the mark of his three-point contribution to Europe's 16.5 - 11.5 victory.
“Do I want Jon Rahm on the Ryder Cup team? Yes. Should there be exemptions granted? I'm unsure,” Lowry told journalists ahead of the Irish Open, the DP World Tour's latest tournament, on Wednesday.
“I won't be the one making those decisions,” he continued. “Rahmbo in the Ryder Cup is an absolute monster. I’ve witnessed him in two Ryder Cups, and he’s phenomenal. There might not be anyone bigger than the Ryder Cup, I'm not so sure. We'll see.”
Rahm and Lowry were both under Captain Padraig Harrington's leadership during the 2021 Ryder Cup in Whistling Straits, Wisconsin.
Harrington, joining Lowry in competing in his home Open this week, is not envious of Donald's predicament in managing the lead-up to the September 2023 Ryder Cup opener at Bethpage Black.
“If anyone is aware of me, I'm a stickler for the rules. You know what the rules say, and you adhere to them,” Harrington told journalists Wednesday.
“I'm a big fan of Jon. However, if the rules are written down, you must abide by them. That's just the way it is. It's crucial for the Ryder Cup, given its significance… it's more than just a match.”
Despite his intention to participate in LIV Golf events, golfer Jon Rahm needs to participating in three more DP World Tour events to maintain his membership and secure a spot in the Ryder Cup team. alternativeively, he could face being barred from participating in any DP World Tour tournament until he resolves or appeals the fines levied against him for his involvement in LIV Golf events conflicting with their own calendar.
Rahm's involvement in golf as a sport extends beyond just the LIV Golf series, as he also aims to take part in the DP World Tour's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and Andalucia Masters in October.
