Report: Jon Rahm's Ryder Cup saga takes another dramatic twist

Jon Rahm has withdrawn his appeal against the DP World Tour (DPWT) but still won't pay his fines for competing in conflicting LIV Golf events, according to a report. 

GOLF are reporting the Spanish two-time major champion officially withdrew his appeal against the European-based circuit on 10 March. 

But the 31-year-old has absolutely no interest in settling his bill, which is now in excess of £2.25m ($3m). 

Rahm joined LIV Golf on a five-year contract for a reported £450m ($566m) in December 2023. 

When the 2023 Masters champion put pen to paper on the lucrative deal, he had already seen other LIV Golf players lose a similar appeal against the DPWT.  

European Ryder Cup legends Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell and Sergio Garcia were fined £100,000 each for appearing in the first ever LIV Golf event at Centurion Club in June 2022 without receiving an official release from the DPWT. 

They took their case to Sports Resolutions UK but a panel of former high court judges ruled against the group, clarifying the Tour had the right to impose the sanctions. 

Still, Rahm lodged an appeal anyway last summer and many critics believe the process deliberately moved at a snail's pace so he and his LIV teammate, Tyrrell Hatton, could enter four DPWT events to remain eligible for the Ryder Cup. 

Rahm and Hatton once again played key roles for Luke Donald's Europe in their 15-13 victory at Bethpage Black. 

The pair were undefeated in the foursomes. Rahm secured three points for Europe whilst Hatton registered three-and-a-half and even knocked in the winning putt against Collin Morikawa in the singles.  

Yet it was unclear how the situation would develop and whether or not the disagreement would rule both out of next September's Ryder Cup in Ireland. 

At the beginning of the month, Hatton was among a group of eight LIV players to accept a deal from the DPWT to settle his Ryder Cup future. 

The group have agreed to settle their bills, withdraw all pending appeals and agree to tee up in stipulated DPWT events this season. 

In exchange, they will no longer receive heavy fines. 

The DPWT have claimed the agreement is for this season only and is not precedent setting. 

But Rahm refused, explaining he believed that the DPWT were attempting to extort him. 

Rahm took issue with being asked to play in two extra events when the usual requirement is four to remain a member. 

"I don't know what game they're playing," he previously fumed. 

Several of Rahm's Ryder Cup teammates, including Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose, have called on the reigning LIV champion to settle his bill. 

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

"I mean I, geez, in my opinion, it's a really generous deal," McIlroy said. 

"Like it's a much softer deal than what Brooks took to come back and play on the PGA Tour. Look, the European Tour can only do so much to accommodate these guys.

"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.

"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."