Ex-Ryder Cup captain weighs in on Jon Rahm's DPWT stand-off

Former European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington has expressed his support for Jon Rahm amid the Spaniard's tense stand-off with the DP World Tour. 

Rahm's future in the biennial event remains uncertain after he rejected the opportunity - at least temporarily - to end a long-running dispute with the DPWT. 

Last week, the two-time major champion was told he could be free to play LIV Golf events this season without being sanctioned. 

In return, Rahm was told he had to settle his existing fines - thought to be in the region of $2m - and tee up in additional stipulated Tour events. 

Eight players, including England's Tyrrell Hatton, accepted the proposal and have also foregone their rights to appeal in the future. 

It clears a pathway for Hatton to make his fifth Ryder Cup appearance when the matches head to Adare Manor in Ireland next September. 

But Rahm appears to be standing firm on a point of principle. 

He previously revealed he objects to being fined for missing tournaments he has never participated in. 

Harrington, who was captain of the European Ryder Cup team at Whistling Straits in 2021, weighed in on the messy argument in a recent interview with the Irish Times.

"I don't know the politics of it," said Harrington. "The difficulty right now is, what's the European Tour's next step? 

"They've included these guys. How do they say to those guys, now we're doing something different? I don't know. if there's other options.

"There's no way that the captain and the team want to go into a Ryder Cup without Jon Rahm, and maybe he’s relying on that, and he can rely on it right now. There's no doubt about that."

Harrington said his personal view of Rahm hasn't changed. 

"I have a very good relationship with Jon, as I do with all my team-mates of 2021," he said. 

"He will be forever my teammate, and I will do everything I can to support and help him going forward."

Rahm has become one of Europe's key players. 

He made his debut in 2018 and memorably clinched a Sunday singles victory over Tiger Woods in Paris as Thomas Bjorn's men cantered to victory. 

Rahm was instrumental in Europe's success story at Marco Simone in Italy three years ago and also at Bethpage Black last September. 

Hatton and Rahm are also unbeaten in the five matches they have participated together. 

Overall, Rahm has amassed a Ryder Cup record of 9-5-3.

Which players accepted the deal?

Hatton wasn't the only player to accept the deal which DPWT officials describe as not "precedent-setting". 

Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig and Elvis Smylie have also accepted. 

The golfers have paid their outstanding fines, withdrawn all appeals and agreed to participate in extra DP World Tour events this season. 

The Tour have not disclosed which tournaments they are, but it is understood they were agreed upon with the players' input. 

Detry, for example, has already committed to the Soudal Open in Belgium.