The door has been opened for Jon Rahm to star for team Europe in next year's Ryder Cup
The Spaniard and LIV Golf pal Tyrrell Hatton could well don the famous blue at Bethpage Black in New York next September after DP Tour chief Guy Kinnings outlined what they would need to do. Doubts over their eligibility have lingered ever since they made to move to the Saudi-backed tour. Rory McIlroy was emphatic when he said there should be no doubt that the pair can play in the matchplay tournament against the USA.
Last year, Ryder Cup legends Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood were among a number of golf stars slapped with sanctions for playing in LIV events without being officially released from the DP Tour. Facing fines of up to £800,000, they all resigned from the circuit. The same rules still apply, meaning Hatton and Rahm will be suspended for one event and a fine for taking part in this week's LIV Golf event in Adelaide.
But if they play in four DP Tour events this year, then they will remain eligible for the Ryder Cup. “The reality is that until we announce the qualification process, which we don’t need to do yet as that doesn’t start for another four to five months, it’s kind of speculation," said Kinnings.
"But, if you look at what the qualification/eligibility criteria was for 2023, then I think there has been a slight misconception because the reality is under the current rules, if a player is European and is a member of the DP World Tour and abides by the rules as they currently are - so, if you don’t get a release, there are sanctions and if you accept those sanctions and take those penalties and work with that - there is no reason why players who’ve taken LIV membership but maintain membership with the DP World Tour could not a) qualify or b) be available for selection.
"To be honest, I think some people had said ‘oh, you are going to have to change the rules’ and then came back and said ‘actually, I don’t think you do’.”
