Jon Rahm issues direct response to Rory McIlroy over "rogue" comment

Jon Rahm insists he is extremely happy to be in South Africa despite what Rory McIlroy thinks.

Rahm and the Northern Irishman are involved in what some may consider a lukewarm spat over the Spaniard's Ryder Cup status. 

The 2023 Masters champion is at odds with the DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, over the fines he has been issued for competing in conflicting LIV Golf events. 

Rahm has racked up a bill of more than £2.5m since joining the PIF-backed breakaway.

He lodged an appeal last year and some critics believe it was deliberately delayed so the Spaniard, and his LIV teammate Tyrrell Hatton, could represent Europe against the United States.

Said appeal still hasn't been heard and DPWT officials attempted to resolve the situation entirely at the beginning of the month by offering a settlement to allow LIV players to play in both organisations' tournaments without being fined.

Eight LIV players accepted but Rahm refused and accused the DPWT of "extorting players". 

Rahm took issue with the fact the waiver included stipulated events. 

"I don't know what game they're trying to play right now," he said.

McIlroy was asked about the situation ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks ago and appeared to be surprised with Rahm's position. 

He claimed that Rahm didn't really want to travel to South Africa this week but it's part of his contract. 

One reporter asked Rahm in his pre-tournament news conference on Tuesday: "A couple of weeks ago, a fairly outspoken Irish golfer went rogue and alluded to the fact that you're not even that keen to come to South Africa.

"I'd love to ease my own pain and probably the pain of a lot of people. Now that you're here, are you stoked to be with us?"

Rahm said: "I think you could see as a response to that, there was a video that I made with a South African journalist of my expressing my enthusiasm to be here. Hasn't changed. 

"I'm very happy to be here and very convinced it's going to be a really fun tournament. My only regret is what I said. 

"I wish I had time to stay afterwards and enjoy South Africa a little bit more, but I'm sure I'll have time in the future. We're looking forward to this for a while."

What did Rory McIlroy say?

McIlroy said the deal offered by the DPWT to Rahm was more generous than the one Brooks Koepka accepted as part of his return to the PGA Tour. 

"Look, the European Tour can only do so much to accommodate these guys," he said. 

"So, you know, if you want to play on the Ryder Cup you have to be a member of the DP World Tour. You have to be a member of the DP World Tour, you have to abide by the rules and regulations. 

"And the rules and regulations were, okay, if you break the media rights agreement and you go and play in a conflicting event, you don't get a release, you're subject to fines. So the guys didn't want to pay these fines, that's fine."

He added: "So then the European Tour said, okay, let's try to come up with some sort of solution where you don't have to pay the fines, so that we can ease that burden on you, but still retain your membership. 

"And I, look, there's a reason eight of the nine guys took that deal, right. I think it's a really good deal. 

"Yeah, obviously Jon doesn't think so, and he's obviously well within his rights to think that way. But I just don't see what more the European Tour can do to accommodate these guys to retain their membership."

McIlroy said extra two stipulated events Rahm was being asked to participate in wasn't a "heavy lift". 

"I'm sure Jon doesn't want to go to South Africa next week, but he's going there.

"He signed a contract for LIV and he plays 14 events and the whole thing. Like I get all that. 

"But the DP World Tour is well within its rights to protect itself as a members organization and as a business. 

"And if you asked any DP World Tour member about the deal that they have cut with the LIV guys they would, I think they would all say that it was pretty generous. 

"So, and again, there's a reason that eight of the nine took it, because they probably think the same thing, and one guy thinks a little differently, and that's a shame."