Jon Rahm has filed an appeal against the sanctions imposed on him by the DP World Tour for participating in the LIV Golf League, giving him the opportunity to compete in the Spanish Open and other European circuit events until a verdict is reached by an independent panel regarding the fines.
Rahm’s appeal is crucial as it enables him to potentially meet the minimum requirement of four DP World Tour starts needed to be considered for the next year’s Ryder Cup.
Having joined the Saudi-funded league last year for a reported signing bonus exceeding $300 million, Rahm is one of the players who defected to LIV Golf. Alongside him, Tyrrell Hatton and Adrian Meronk are also undergoing the appeal process and are permitted to compete in tournaments while their appeals are pending.
Hatton recently participated in the Betfred British Masters, and both he and Rahm are scheduled to compete in upcoming events such as the Spanish Open, Dunhill Links Championship, and Andalucia Masters. This would fulfill Rahm’s four starts requirement, with the Olympics counting towards the minimum.
“I don’t intend to pay the fines”
Rahm’s primary objection is regarding the fines imposed for playing LIV events that conflicted with tournaments he had no intention of participating in. This year, DP World Tour events clashed with LIV Golf events held in Bahrain, South Africa, Japan, China, and the Czech Republic.
“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,” stated Rahm, who recently secured $22 million by winning LIV Golf Chicago and claiming the season-long individual title.
The appeals process mirrors that of the initial LIV Golf defections in 2022, with Sport Resolutions acting as an independent panel. In April 2023, it was ruled that serious breaches occurred and that the DP World Tour was justified in penalizing the players. Given this history, it is unlikely that Hatton and Rahm’s appeals will be treated differently.
Despite the challenges, players like Rahm who aspire to participate in the 2025 Ryder Cup are hopeful for changes within golf’s landscape before the matches at Bethpage Black next September. Negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia are ongoing, exploring the potential for the PIF to become a minority investor in PGA Tour Enterprises and its implications for players on both sides.
European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald expressed support for Rahm’s decision to appeal, emphasizing the significance of the Ryder Cup to the golfer. Donald acknowledged the disagreement over fines and events, noting that while Rahm disagrees with the penalties, the rules were in place when he signed with LIV.
