Jon Rahm to golf reporter: "Without sounding rude, it's first world problems"

Jon Rahm says his ongoing dispute with the DP World Tour is not something he worries about whilst there is "real tragedy happening worldwide". 

Rahm was among a group of nine LIV Golf players who were offered the opportunity to continue playing on the European-based circuit this season without being fined. 

Eight players - including England's Tyrrell Hatton - accepted the proposal, ensuring they remain eligible for next year's Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Ireland. 

But the terms were not agreeable to Rahm, who accused the DP World Tour of extortion. 

The waiver included an agreement to pay his outstanding £2.5m fines, withdraw his appeal entirely and an acceptance to take part in stipulated DP World Tour events. 

The two-time major champion said he refuses to play in six tournaments as opposed to the usual four to retain membership and has decided to continue with his appeal. 

Should he lose, he would be forced to decide whether to pay up or sit out the showdown against the United States altogether. 

On Tuesday, Rahm was asked about the situation again ahead of LIV Golf's stop in Singapore.

"I don't know how to say this except truly, without sounding rude, it's first-world problems," he said. 

"It's what it is. There's real problems in the world, and whether I have an agreement or disagreement with the DP World Tour, it shouldn't be one of them.

"While we continue to discuss what the future might be, it's not something to overly worry about when there's real tragedy happening worldwide."

Rahm, clearly, was referring to the joint attack by the United States and Israel on Iran and the retaliatory strikes. 

Last week, a group of eight LIV Golf players were stranded in the United Arab Emirates amid the conflict. 

Thomas Detry, Lee Westwood, Anirban Lahiri, Sam Horsfield, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk and Rahm's Legion XIII teammate, Caleb Surratt, were unsure if they were able to get out of the region so they could participate at LIV's stop in Hong Kong. 

Surratt previously told Golf Channel the situation was "terrifying". 

Rahm was instrumental in the rescue mission. The group travelled by road to Muscat, Oman, and boarded a private jet chartered by the Spanish golfer. 

Rahm said he was up all night checking the flight tracker. 

"It was a massive, massive relief to have those guys land on Wednesday," he said. 

"Up until they landed and I saw them in person, there was still some nerves that night from Tuesday to Wednesday, being up virtually all night looking at the flight tracker, making sure they were taking off, making sure they were okay, making sure they were out of the path of any possible bombing and they were in safe space was a lot. 

"But I could feel a lot of relaxation after they landed."

Rahm produced a final-round 64 in Hong Kong, beating the aforementioned Detry, to claim his first individual LIV Golf title since 2024.