"He is ineligible to play"- Jon Rahm's unpaid fines come at heavy cost after being banned from playing on the DP World Tour
Jon Rahm's presence as a player in the 2025 Ryder Cup is increasingly in jeopardy due to his conflicts with the DP World Tour. To be eligible, Rahm must maintain his DP World Tour membership, which requires him to play at least four tournaments in 2024.
However, this may not be possible for him in the near future, as reported by National Club Golfer, citing a DP World Tour spokesperson. The reason is that Jon Rahm has not completed all the sanctions imposed on him following his move to LIV Golf.
Here is the statement from the European Tour representative:
"Jon has outstanding sanctions for breaches of the DP World Tour’s conflicting tournament regulation. Until those outstanding sanctions are resolved, he is ineligible to play in a DP World Tour event."
The DP World Tour states that member players must obtain permission to play in events on other tours that coincide with its own. Jon Rahm did not obtain such permission to play LIV Golf events and is therefore subject to fines and suspensions from the European Tour.
Jon Rahm and his DP World Tour membership
By expressly refusing to pay the fines imposed, Jon Rahm will be ineligible to play on the DP World Tour. The most immediate effect will be his absence from the Spanish Open, which closes registration this Thursday, September 12.
Other players, such as Tyrrell Hatton, are appealing their fines with the DP World Tour and have been able to play on the circuit. Hatton recently played in the British Masters.
If this situation continues, Jon Rahm could lose his DP World Tour card. There are nine events left in the 2024 season, but two of them have already closed registration and the third is the Open de España, which closes this Thursday. The list also includes the two playoff events, for which Rahm has yet to qualify.
To keep his Tour card, the Spaniard must play in at least three of the four remaining events, all of which will be played in October (Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Open de France, Andalucia Masters, and Genesis Championship).
The DP World Tour includes the Olympic event on its official calendar. As a result, Rahm only needs three more starts in 2024.
What Rahm had to say about DP World Tour fines
Jon Rahm spoke about the issue this Wednesday, September 11, from the Bolingbrook Golf Course in Chicago, site of the LIV Golf Individual Championship. Rahm stated that he has no intention of paying the fines. Here's what he said (via ASAP Sports):
"I'm not a big fan of the fines. I think I've been outspoken about that. I don't intend to pay the fines, and we keep trying to have a discussion with them about how we can make this happen."
Rahm also assured that his team is in talks with the European Tour to try to get him to play in Europe, specifically Spain.