LIV Golf’s Shadow Looms Over Ryder Cup As Captains Address Challenges

Still nearly a year out from the 2025 Ryder Cup, LIV Golf’s disruption of the sport is staying top of mind for those most invested in the iconic team event.

Captains from the U.S. and European teams addressed LIV’s impact on the Ryder Cup at a media event in New York City on Tuesday, as they previewed next year’s action, which will take place Sept. 26–28 at Bethpage Black Golf Course on Long Island.

While there are no specific bans on LIV members from either team (unlike the Presidents Cup), the controversial tour continues to complicate the logistics of filling out each squad. One factor impacting both sides is players not earning Official World Golf Ranking points at LIV tournaments. That makes it much harder for someone like Bryson DeChambeau or Jon Rahm to earn one of the six automatic qualifying spots for their respective teams. And that leaves their most likely path to selection via a captain’s pick, of which both teams have six.

“I’m going to take the 12 best players,” U.S. captain Keegan Bradley said. “So, if we feel like there’s a few guys there [from LIV], one guy, two guys, whatever it is, then we’re gonna do that.” Last month, the PGA of America, which is not affiliated with the PGA Tour, reaffirmed LIV players would remain eligible for the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

Europe’s DP World Tour Dilemma

For Team Europe, though, it’s not as black and white. Players—and any vice or assistant captains—must be members of the DP World Tour, from which many LIV players resigned to avoid fines they would receive for playing in LIV events without permission. Luke Donald was a late substitute as Europe’s captain in 2023 after Henrik Stenson, previously tabbed for the role, joined LIV.

Rahm, who is still at odds with the DP World Tour over said fines (Sports Illustrated reported they are in the neighborhood of $1 million), recently played in two tour events to stay in good standing. “It was great to see Jon do what he needed to do to remain eligible,” Donald said.

Donald said he’s been in “constant communication” with Rahm and other LIV players, including Tyrrell Hatton, who won last week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and Sergio García, who is considering rejoining the DP World Tour. “He’s certainly very interested in doing that,” Donald said of García, the 2017 Masters champion. “He understands everything that’s involved. The decision has to go to him, whether he’s prepared to do all that.”