Jon Rahm refuses to pay DP World Tour fines

Jon Rahm’s involvement in next year’s Ryder Cup remains up in the air, with the Spaniard refusing to pay the fines dished out by the DP World Tour following his move to LIV Golf.

Since defecting to the Saudi-backed circuit LIV Golf last year, the three-time DP World Tour Championship winner has been accumulating fines and suspensions from the DP World Tour for participating in LIV tournaments that conflict with their events.

To maintain his DP World Tour membership, which is a requirement for Ryder Cup eligibility, Rahm must play at least four regular DP World Tour events each season. So far, his only qualifying event has been the Olympic Games.

Ahead of LIV Golf’s Individual Championship, Rahm confirmed he has entered the Spanish Open, Dunhill Links Championship and Andalucia Masters, but the DP World Tour has shot down his chances of competing at those events.

“Jon has outstanding sanctions for breaches of the DP World Tour’s conflicting tournament regulation,” said a DP World Tour spokesperson.

“Until those outstanding sanctions are resolved, he is ineligible to play in a DP World Tour event.”

Rahm remains adamant that he won’t be paying the fines, telling reporters in Chicago: “Still talking to the DP World Tour, I intend to play in Spain.

“I’m entered into the tournament. We entered a long time ago. Whether they let me play or not is a different thing. I’m not a big fan of the fines.

“I think I’ve been outspoken about that. I don’t intend to pay the fines, and we keep trying to have a discussion with them about how we can make this happen.

“I’ve said many times, I don’t go to the Spanish Open for the glory or anything else. I think it’s my duty to Spanish golf to be there, and I also want to play in Sotogrande.

“At that point, it would almost be doing not only me but Spanish golf a disservice by not letting me play, so yeah, that’s why we’re trying to talk to them and make that happen.

“I would also love to play the Dunhill. I have a good friend who asked me to play, and Johan has been a great, great ambassador for the game of golf. I would love to be able to play all those events.”

His LIV Golf teammate, Tyrrell Hatton, recently played in the British Masters after appealing the sanctions imposed by the DP World Tour. However, Rahm has yet to take the same approach.

With the entry deadline for the Spanish Open closing today, Rahm faces a choice: pay the fines or file an appeal if he hopes to compete in his home event.

If he fails to meet the requirement of playing four regular DP World Tour events, he risks being ineligible for next year’s Ryder Cup — a significant setback for Captain Luke Donald and the European team.