Jon Rahm didn’t hold back when explaining why you won’t see him competing on the DP World Tour this year.
The Spanish golf star compared the European-based tour’s treatment of LIV Golf players to extortion after several stars had to agree to certain conditions to compete.
The players had to agree to pay any pending fines, drop any pending appeals and compete in a set minimum of DPWT tournaments – including some that the Tour itself will choose for the players
Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig and Elvis Smylie agreed to the terms, which Rahm stood firmly against.
What Rahm ranted to media
According to reports, Rahm owes DPWT a fine of between $2 million and $3 million while DPWT required him to compete in at least six of its events – which is up from four in previous years.
Rahm said those conditions amount to “extorting players like myself.”
“I don’t know what game they’re trying to play right now,” Rahm said during a press conference ahead of this week’s LIV Golf event in Hong Kong. “But it just seems like in a way they’re using us to (capitalize on) our impact in tournaments and fining us and trying to benefit both ways from what we have to offer, and it’s just in a way they’re extorting players like myself and young players that have nothing to do with the politics of the game.
“So I don’t like the situation and I’m not going to agree to that. Now, I did tell them, funny enough, lower that to four events, like the minimum says, and I’ll sign tonight. They haven’t agreed to that. I just refuse to play six events. I don’t want to and that’s not what the rules say.”
Players don’t get a choice of events
The two-time major winner also said that players deserve the choice of which events that they compete in on the tour.
“I just don’t like the situation. I think we should be able to freely play where we want and have the choice to play where we want, and not be dictated what we do. Especially myself. I can’t speak for others, only myself.
“I’ve always committed to play the minimum requirement (on the DPWT) and I think I’ve played four events, including the Spanish Open, every year except one as a pro and I commit to do that. That’s not going to change. I still fully intend to do that.”
Ryder Cup spot in jeopardy?
Rahm’s stance could jeopardize his potential spot in the 2027 Ryder Cup in Limerick, Ireland.
Hatton, another member of the European team that won the 2025 event at Bethpage Black, kept his eligibility by agreeing to DPWT’s terms.
Rahm said he would pay his own way if he has to.
“I’ll gladly pay my way to go on the Ryder Cup, not have to pay to still be a member of the DP World Tour and fulfill a commitment that I’m fully willing to commit,” Rahm said.