LIV Golfers Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton reportedly commit to Alfred Dunhill Championship in hopes of Ryder Cup eligibility
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, both members of LIV Golf, have reportedly committed to the Alfred Dunhill Championship. The DP World Tour event is part of their attempt to gain eligibility for the Ryder Cup, which faces some obstacles at the moment.
As per reports, both Rahm and Hatton are listed in the field for the Alfred Dunhill Championship, which will allow the two to play despite their being fines outstanding against them.
Rahm has been at odds with the tour since he left, refusing to pay the fines levied at him and trying his best to get into tournaments he otherwise wouldn't be able to play. It's largely all in the name of qualifying for the Ryder Cup, which was made much more challenging after his decision to move to LIV.
The Ryder Cup maintains that Rahm and Hatton must play three further events on the tour before the season ends with the Tour Championship in Dubai on November 17. While it is difficult to achieve, for now, Rahm has gained entrance to the field for the Spanish Open and now the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
Jon Rahm faces an uphill battle, but he's done well so far in working his way towards the Ryder Cup. He was a key member of Europe's dominant team last year, but his move to LIV threw his eligibility into doubt. The same was true for Hatton, who moved to the Saudi-backed tour shortly after Rahm did.
Shane Lowry wants Jon Rahm on Ryder Cup team
Shane Lowry will have a much easier time making it onto the European team for the Ryder Cup than Jon Rahm as he's still a member of the DP World Tour. However, the Irishman wants to see Rahm play alongside him again in 2025.
Speaking to CNN on September 12 before the Irish Open, Lowry said:
“Do I want Jon Rahm on the Ryder Cup Team? Yes. Should there be exemptions made? I’m not sure," he said.
Lowry went on to mention how he's not in charge of selecting the team but said that he would prefer having Rahm on the team:
“I want to be there on myself. Rahmbo in the Ryder Cup is an absolute animal. I’ve seen him in two Ryder Cups and he’s unbelievable. If there’s only one person bigger than the Ryder Cup, I’m not sure. We’ll see.”
Padraig Harrington took a slightly different stance, claiming that while he was a fan of the Spanish golfer, the rules needed to be adhered to regardless of the context.
“If the rules are written down, you’ve got to go about and stick to them. That’s just the way it is. It’s very important for the Ryder Cup … it’s bigger than just the match,” Harrington said.
For now, Rahm will attempt to retain eligibility no matter what. If he doesn't succeed, then those exemptions that Lowry referenced might come into play.