Ryder Cup Team Europe could be without both Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton at next year’s contest with former Captain Paul McGinley warning there will be no quick fix to resolve their futures after the duo joined LIV Golf.
Despite still retaining their DP World Tour memberships after joining the breakaway circuit, the pair are still racking up fines and suspensions by the European circuit for competing in LIV Golf events without a release.
While the length of suspension has not been made public, it could seriously hamper their chances of turning out for Luke Donald’s team, with DP World Tour members required to play four events per season or lose their card.
“Under the current systems, they’re not going to be eligible,” McGinley said, as quoted by the Irish Independent.
“So the rules will have to be changed if they are to be played. But there are a lot of hurdles to jump to get to the place where they’re going to be eligible.
“There’s a very, very strong sentiment among the players who have stayed that they’re the reason the game is divided and the product diluted.
“A diluted product lessens their value. So there’s an argument on both sides. And then there’s the Ryder Cup brand. Is that going to be affected if some top players are ineligible to play?
“So you’ve got to balance making sure the Ryder Cup stays in this top echelon, with the best players playing, but also being fair to the players on both sides. So it’s a negotiating position.”
Losing Rahm would deal a significant blow to Europe’s chances of winning in New York, with McGinley admitting Donald has a big selection headache brewing.
“I’ve been speaking a lot to Luke Donald about potential scenarios, but nothing is written in stone,” said McGinley, who is a member on the Ryder Cup advisory board.
“I’ve loads of ideas about what could happen. But it’s hard when there are so many moving parts at the moment.
“The five brands that have grown substantially on the back of this disharmony in the game are the four majors and the Ryder Cup. Where the Ryder Cup is going to go now in terms of eligibility is a big challenge for Luke and the tour.
“Are these guys going to be allowed play Ryder Cup? Or are they not? And if they are, how are we going to do that?”
