Jon Rahm at Risk of Losing Ryder Cup Spot Over $3M in Fines

Jon Rahm’s 2027 Ryder Cup eligibility is in jeopardy.

The former world No. 1 was not included in a list of players granted conditional release by the DP World Tour on Saturday to compete at LIV Golf events in 2026. An active membership on the DP World Tour, the European golf tour, is a requirement for players on the European Ryder Cup team.

The DP World Tour granted conditional releases to eight players: Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig, and Elvis Smylie. 

The DP Tour’s announcement stated that the players accepted three key conditions to receive their release:

• Payment in full of all outstanding fines for breaches of the DP World Tour’s regulations.

• Participation in additional stipulated DP World Tour tournaments, as well as associated media activity and promotion. (Typical golf pros must play at least four tournaments to maintain DP World Tour membership, per ESPN.)
• Withdrawal of all pending appeals.

“Provided each member satisfies the conditions of their individual releases, no disciplinary action under the Regulations will be taken against them for playing in conflicting tournaments on LIV Golf in 2026 and they will retain their membership status,” the announcement read.

Rahm, who officially joined LIV Golf in late 2023, refused to pay a reported $3 million in fines due to his participation in LIV tournaments without DP Tour clearance. He participated in last year’s Ryder Cup while his sanctions were under appeal, helping Team Europe secure the win at Bethpage Black in New York.

The two-time major champion may still find his way onto the team if his appeals are cleared in time for the biennial tournament.

Rory McIlroy, a fellow Team Europe star, encouraged Rahm and Hatton to pay the fines associated with the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January.

“Look, this is my opinion, we went really hard on the Americans about being paid to play the Ryder Cup and we also said we would pay to play in Ryder Cups. There’s two guys that can prove it. Great. I think any members’ organisation like this Tour has a right to uphold its rules and regulations,” McIlroy said.