Jon Rahm runs risk of Ryder Cup absence after decision to decline terms on DP World Tour deal

Jon Rahm’s Ryder Cup hopes have been plunged into uncertainty after rejecting a deal to settle fines with the DP World Tour.

The Spaniard and eight other LIV Golf stars have been fined by the DP World Tour for playing in events without permission.

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The sanctions are handed out each time that Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig and Elvis Smylie play at a LIV event.

Terms agreed — but not with everyone

However, the Tour announced on Saturday that the aforementioned players – with the exception of Rahm – have signed up to new terms that will bring an end to the feud.

The terms of the new agreement will see the eight players pay the outstanding fines while featuring in extra DPWT tournaments beyond the required four needed to retain Tour membership as well as partaking in media duties.

But Rahm is the notable name not on the list with his fellow golfers after telling the Tour he has ‘no intention’ of paying the fines for breaching membership guidelines.

The two-time major champion has been a fixture in the European team, playing in the last four renewals of the iconic team competition, winning the event on three occasions.

However he has accrued fines in the region of £2.5million and if he continues his refusal to pay the fines then he will be forced to give up his DPWT membership, making him ineligible for the 2027 Ryder Cup.

His stance is in contrast with LIV teammate Hatton who has seemingly backed down amid the stand-off.

And that has opened the door for the Englishman – part of the last four European teams – to feature in next year’s Ryder Cup in Ireland.

The DP World Tour states that the releases only apply for 2026 and are not ‘precedent setting’, with requests for further releases to be considered on an individual basis.

However, disciplinary action will continue to be enforced against members who play in conflicting LIV Golf events without a release.

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DPWT statement

A DPWT statement read: “The DP World Tour has granted conditional releases to eight members to play in conflicting tournaments on LIV Golf during the 2026 season.

“Each member has accepted the conditions specified by the DP World Tour for their release, which include: payment in full of all outstanding fines for breaches of the DP World Tour’s Regulations; participation in additional stipulated DP World Tour tournaments, as well as associated media activity and promotion; withdrawal of all pending appeals.

“The members who have been granted conditional releases are: Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig and Elvis Smylie.

“The conditions these members have accepted will provide additional value to the DP World Tour and benefit to the entire membership.

“Provided each member satisfies the conditions of their individual releases, no disciplinary action under the Regulations will be taken against them for playing in conflicting tournaments on LIV Golf in 2026 and they will retain their membership status.

“The releases apply for the 2026 season only and they are not precedent-setting.

“Requests for releases will continue to be considered on their individual merits in accordance with the Regulations that all members agree to abide by.”