Rahm Eligible for Ryder Cup After Striking Tour Deal
Jon Rahm, a former world number one and two-time major champion, will be eligible to compete in next year's Ryder Cup in Ireland following an agreement to continue playing on the DP World Tour, ending a prolonged dispute.
The 31-year-old Spaniard had been involved in a lengthy conflict with the European tour, refusing to pay fines for participating in LIV Golf events without official authorization since joining the breakaway tour in 2024. As a result, Rahm became ineligible for DP World Tour events and was considered a member not in good standing, which would have excluded him from Ryder Cup selection.
Throughout the disagreement, Rahm maintained that a resolution would be reached. Under the new agreement, he will pay outstanding fines estimated at approximately £2 million and commit to playing a minimum of five DP World Tour events.
This development follows Saudi Arabia's recent announcement that it will cease funding the LIV Golf League beyond the 2026 season.
"There's no longer a standoff," the two-time major winner stated. "We were able to reach an agreement. There was some concessions on both sides. I offered some; they extended an olive branch. That will not be a stress anymore."
A DP World Tour spokesperson added,
"The DP World Tour and Jon Rahm have come to an agreement on conditional releases to play in conflicting tournaments on LIV Golf during the remainder of its 2026 season. This involves payment of all outstanding fines accrued from 2024 to date, along with participation in agreed DP World Tour tournaments (outside the majors) in the remainder of the 2026 season."
Europe's Ryder Cup captain, Luke Donald, will welcome Rahm's availability for the tournament scheduled at Adare Manor in County Limerick, Ireland, from 17-19 September 2027.
Rahm has competed in four Ryder Cups, with Europe winning three, including the last two held in Rome and New York. He has been a key player for Donald, forming a strong partnership with fellow LIV Golf player Tyrrell Hatton. The duo remains unbeaten in five matches, securing four victories.
Overall, Rahm has played 17 Ryder Cup matches, winning nine, losing five, and halving three. Notably, he holds a perfect record in foursomes, winning all six matches against American pairings.
Hatton is among eight other players who previously agreed to terms with the DP World Tour to continue participating in LIV events without facing sanctions. These players must compete in at least six DP World Tour events.
The other players are Laurie Canter, Tom McKibbin, Thomas Detry, Victor Perez, Adrian Meronk, David Puig, and Australia's Elvis Spylie. Their agreements allow the tour to designate two tournaments they must enter.
Rahm's deal is reported to be similar to the arrangements made by these eight players last February.
What Now for Rahm, DeChambeau, and LIV's Leading Figures?
'I Don't See Many Ways Out of LIV Contract'
Rahm joined LIV Golf in December 2023 as the reigning Masters champion, reportedly signing a $300 million (£222 million) contract. Over two completed seasons, he has earned nearly $92.5 million (£68.4 million) in prize money and has won twice this season on the LIV tour.
Regarding his contract, Rahm commented on Tuesday,
"I have several years on my contract left, and I'm pretty sure they did a pretty good job when they drafted that. So I don't see many ways out, and as of right now, I'm not really thinking about it since we still have a season to play and majors to compete for. So it's not something I want to think about just yet."
Rahm's decision to reconcile with the DP World Tour occurs amid uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf's future following the withdrawal of Saudi funding.
Last week, LIV announced the postponement of its June tournament in Louisiana, citing hot weather and a scheduling conflict with the men's football World Cup, which is primarily hosted in North America.
LIV Golf has described the funding withdrawal as an opportunity for "strategic evolution" and the adoption of a "multi-partner investment model." The organization has appointed businessmen Gene Davis and Jon Zinman, who have expertise in raising investment capital.
Additionally, the breakaway league disclosed this week that it has retained Ducera Partners LLC as its investment banking advisor to assist in securing long-term investment partners.
