Jon Rahm played a key role in last year's Ryder Cup at the Marco Simone, leading a start-to-finish victory over the USA and earning three points for Team Europe.
But his move to LIV Golf last December upended his Ryder Cup future. To represent Europe in the biennial tournament, players must maintain their DP World Tour membership, which requires playing four DP World Tour events each year. Rahm has already played in the Olympics, but because the Olympics counts as an event on the DP World Tour, unlike the PGA Tour, he will need to play three tournaments this fall.
However, the DP World Tour levied a heavy fine on Rahm for his participation in LIV. Rahm has since said he will not pay the fine, adding that he has played in the Spanish Open and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews. Rahm is also due to compete in Andalusia in late October, which will complete his minimum qualification for four tournaments.
The DP World Tour subsequently disqualified Rahm, but the two-time major winner appealed the decision early on Thursday. Rahm's fine and possible disqualification will be on hold until a formal appeal is decided. Hearing and consideration by an independent delegationAccording to Bob Harig: Sports IllustratedOf course, this also paves the way for Lahm to compete on European circuits this autumn.
“Jon Rahm is appealing the sanctions imposed on him and remains eligible to participate in accordance with DP World Tour rules,” the DP World Tour said in a statement.
Luke Donald can now exhale.
Donald, who led the European Championships in Rome last year, will again captain the European Championships next year at Bethpage Black on Long Island, a course that promises to be a tough environment for visitors.
“Obviously, from my perspective, it's very gratifying. [Rahm] I made that decision [to appeal]”After the opening round of the Irish Open at Royal County Down, Donald said:
“I know he was a little bit neutral and I'm glad he did that and allowed the game to play and give the golf world time to sort things out.”
On Wednesday, ahead of the LIV Golf event in Chicago, Rahm said it would be a “disservice” to golf if the DP World Tour banned him from playing in domestic Opens, and he has stubbornly resisted, saying he won't pay the fine, despite Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) signing him to a lucrative $400 million deal to join LIV.
“I'm pleased that John has decided to appeal and will be able to compete and qualify in the events he wants to compete in,” Donald added.
“I know the Ryder Cup is very important to him and I'm sure that was a big factor in his decision.”
Donald also said he had been in contact with Rahm about his prospects for the 2025 Ryder Cup, adding that the Spaniard did not agree with the penalty imposed on him by the DP World Tour.
“He has his own views and doesn't agree with paying the fine or penalties, especially in an event he will never play in on the DP World Tour,” Donald said of Rahm.
“But these rules are the rules and they were already in place when he signed with LIV. They weren't changed after the fact. You could say the rules have been relaxed a little bit by having the ability to appeal, but my understanding is that it gives players time to work things out in golf.”
The fact that an appeals process exists is a welcome one for players like Rahm, who also took advantage of the opportunity with fellow LIV players Tyrrell Hatton and Adrian Melonke, who also hope to make the Ryder Cup team next fall and rekindle the special bond that has bound European teams together for decades.
“We developed a really good bond in Rome that still continues to this day,” Donald said.
“I'm not worried. The first challenge was to get John, Tyrrell and some of the other players eligible and have a chance to get them into the team. The camaraderie and culture is something we can work on next year. I'm still talking to the players individually in the group, but our culture has always been about coming together and figuring out how to play for something bigger than just ourselves. We play for each other.”
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow For more golf articles, follow us on Twitter Jack Mirko In the same way.
