Let LIV Golf players into the Ryder Cup, says Jon Rahm

Former World No.1 Jon Rahm believes that the Ryder Cup is "above" the tension that currently exists between LIV Golf, the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.

Matt Chivers's picture
Sat, 8 Oct 2022
Jon Rahm wants LIV Golf players at Ryder Cup: It's Europe versus the US, period

Former US Open champion Jon Rahm wants LIV Golf players to play at the Ryder Cup, stating that the famous tournament isn't "the PGA Tour and European Tour against LIV."

Rahm was the World No.1 during the last Ryder Cup in 2021 and carried much of Europe's hope on his shoulders. He earned three of his 3.5 points playing alongside current LIV Golf player Sergio Garcia at Whistling Straits.

The Spaniard will most likely make his third appearance for Team Europe in 2023 in Rome, but it is unclear if European players who have joined LIV Golf will be able to participate.

They don't yet have access to Official World Golf Ranking points with the ongoing tussle between the OWGR and the MENA Tour. But players such as Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Paul Casey can still earn Ryder Cup qualification points on the DP World Tour.

The PGA Tour has suspended the likes of Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, who were part of the last Team USA. But Rahm wants to play against the best players no matter what tour they play on.

"The Ryder Cup is not the PGA Tour and European Tour against LIV - it's Europe versus the US, period. The best of each against the other, and for me the Ryder Cup is above all. I wish they could play but it doesn't look good," Rahm said.

"It is a complicated situation for Sergio. I understand that he decides not to play, because the last time he played a tournament on the European circuit he was not received very well, although I imagine it would be different in Mallorca. In any case, there are still days left and you can still sign up."

European captain Luke Donald expressed his hope that the Ryder Cup will "unify" professional golf, but he has often kept his thoughts to himself in terms of LIV players being allowed to play for Europe.

Sports Resolutions set a hearing date for February when we will discover if the DP World Tour are able to suspend players as they did for three events back in the summer.

LIV players took advantage of the current conditions on the DP World Tour by playing at the BMW PGA Championship at the start of September, the Tour's flagship event.