The LIV Golf captain said in Hong Kong that he would have agreed had the DP World Tour not required him to play additional events above the minimum of four.
allowing them to play this year without releases and fines had the tour agreed to his stipulation that he only be required to play four events. Speaking in Hong Kong on Tuesday morning ahead of this week’s LIV Golf Hong Kong event, Rahm spoke extensively on the issueThe DP World Tour on Feb.
21 announced that eight players had agreed to terms that will see all past fines paid while dropping appeals and agreeing to play extra events at the Tour’s choosing in addition to the four required. In return, the players will not be forced to seek releases to play conflicting LIV Golf events, which for the last four years has caused members to be fined and suspended.“I did tell them, funny enough, lower that to four events, like the minimum says, and I’ll sign tonight,” Rahm said at a news conference at Hong Kong Golf Club. “They haven’t agreed to that. I just refuse to play six events. I don’t want to, and that’s not what the rules say.” Rahm has said previously he doesn’t believe he should have to pay fines for missing events he would not have played anyway. His fines are believed to be in excess of $2 million, a tab LIV Golf would pay through 2025. He appealed the fines in September 2024, which allowed him to remain a member and compete in last year’s Ryder Cup. A hearing date has not been set. If he loses the appeal, he’d be required to pay outstanding fines in order to participate in any DP World Tour events—including the Ryder Cup next year at Adare Manor in Ireland.“I don’t like what they’re doing currently with the contract they’re having us sign. I don’t like the conditions,” Rahm said. “They’re asking me to play a minimum of six events, and they dictate where two of those have to be, amongst other things that I don’t agree with. “If we just go based on that—I’ve been a dual member my whole career, PGA Tour and DP World Tour. Now with LIV Golf being accepted in the world rankings as part of the ecosystem, you could almost say a three-tour member, even though I’m suspended from the PGA Tour. “But I’ve always been a dual member. Never once have I been asked for a release to play either one of those tours. We’ve never submitted a release. So why is it now that we need to be offering this and there’s all these penalties? What's the problem?” The eight players who agree to the terms were Rahm’s Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton, Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig and Elvis Smylie. The DP World Tour plays the Joburg Open this week in South Africa, which puts Rahm in violation and subject to penalties. The others no longer have to worry about that. “I don’t know what game they’re trying to play right now, but it just seems like in a way they’re using us to—they’re using our impact in tournaments and fining us and trying to benefit both ways from what we have to offer, and it’s just in a way they’re extorting players like myself and young players that have nothing to do with the politics of the game,” Rahm said. “So I don’t like the situation and I’m not going to agree to that.” Rahm was asked about comments Rory McIlroy made earlier this year in Dubai. McIlroy said that European players had made it a point to say—unlike their American counterparts who were getting compensated—that they’d compete in the Ryder Cup for free.“That statement would make a lot more sense if all 12 of us were being asked to pay, not only just the two of us,” Rahm said. “There’s more intricacy that goes into this whole situation, right. While I understand why he’s saying that, we all do it for the love of the game, it’s a different situation than what we usually see. “I’ll gladly pay my way to go on the Ryder Cup, not have to pay to still be a member of the DP World Tour and fulfill a commitment that I’m fully willing to commit.”Bob Harig is a senior writer covering golf for Sports Illustrated. He has more than 25 years experience on the beat, including 15 at ESPN. Harig is a regular guest on Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio and has written two books, "DRIVE: The Lasting Legacy of Tiger Woods" and "Tiger and Phil: Golf's Most Fascinating Rivalry." He graduated from Indiana University where he earned an Evans Scholarship, named in honor of the great amateur golfer Charles Evans Jr. Harig, a former president of the Golf Writers Association of America, lives in Clearwater, Fla.
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