Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton in 'constant communication' with Luke Donald to play the 2025 Ryder Cup
Luke Donald, the captain of the European team for the 2025 Ryder Cup, joined the American captain Keegan Bradley in a preview for the Ryder Cup on Tuesday, October 8. Donald spoke on several topics, including the eligibility of Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm.
Rahm and Hatton's participation in the next Ryder Cup has been the subject of ongoing interest since they joined LIV Golf in December 2023 and January 2024 respectively. However, both the Spaniard and the Englishman are working hard to meet the eligibility criteria set by the DP World Tour.
Luke Donald said that he is in "constant communication" with both players. The European captain said (via ASAP Sports):
"I've spoken to Jon [Rahm]. I've spoken to everyone that is a possibility for being on that team. It was great to see Jon do what he needed to do to remain eligible and to see him in Spain, and last week he played very well at the Dunhill. We're in constant communication."
He added:
"Again, I'm talking to all the players, to him, to Tyrrell [Hatton]. It was great to see Tyrrell win last week at the Dunhill. You know, again, good communication between myself and all these players is vital, and I've certainly been keeping up with that."
The DP World Tour stipulates that players must be members of the circuit to be eligible for the European Team for the Ryder Cup. They must also play in a minimum of four tournaments per year to maintain their membership.
The DP World Tour also imposes fines and suspensions to players who fail to play in European Tour events without justification, as is the case with Rahm, Hatton, and the rest of the former DP World Tour players currently playing on LIV Golf.
Both Hatton and Rahm have appealed these sanctions and they're allowed to play on the circuit until the appeal is resolved.
Thanks to this appeal, they will be able to complete their minimum of four tournaments in 2024 to maintain their DP World Tour membership until at least 2025. This would put them in line to be considered for the Ryder Cup team.
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton at the Ryder Cup
It is no surprise that Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton attract so much attention when it comes to the Ryder Cup. Not only are they two of the best players in the world today, but their record at the biennial event is brilliant.
Both Hatton and Rahm made their European debuts in 2018 and have played in the 2020 and 2023 editions. Hatton has earned a total of six points in 11 matches, while Rahm has earned 7.5 points in 12 matches.
The two also teamed up for three matches with favorable results in all of them. In 2021, they played a fourball match that ended in a draw. In 2023, they won the two matches for which they were paired (both in foursomes).