AUGUSTA, Ga. — John Rahm is confident his issues with the DP World Tour will be resolved in plenty of time for the Spaniard to compete for Europe in the 2027 Ryder Cup.
Eight LIV Golf players agreed to drop their appeals, pay pending fines to the DPWT and play in a mandatory minimum of six events — two determined by the tour — to retain membership. Rahm has declined to pay his fines, which reportedly exceed $3 million, and said last month that the conditions amount to “extorting players like myself.”
He took a much softer stance at the Masters on Tuesday, saying that discussions remain ongoing and that he’s confident the sides will reach a resolution.
“We keep talking to the DP World Tour and trying to figure out a solution that works best,” Rahm said. “I didn’t think that going the legal route and going to court was good for anybody. So I have faith in us and the DP World Tour we’re going to find a good solution for both of us.”
European Ryder Cup players must be active members of the DPWT. Asked if he feels confident that he will be able to compete at Adare Manor in Ireland in September 2027, Rahm simply replied, “Yes.”
In fact, Rahm is hopeful that the situation will be resolved in time for him to play in multiple events following the conclusion of the LIV Golf season in late August. He mentioned the Irish Open, the Spanish Open, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and “maybe even the (Alfred) Dunhill” as DPWT events he is looking forward to potentially playing later this year.
One of the main sticking points for Rahm is the two additional events being required of LIV players. He said previously that if he were required to only play the typical minimum of four required by the tour that he would have already signed the agreement. For now, Rahm says he doesn’t even know what his status with the DPWT is.
“I truly don’t know. If I were unable right now, it doesn’t matter since I’m not planning to tee it up until after August like I have done in my career,” he said. “I do intend to continue to support the DP World Tour. I’ve been very thankful to be a member. I’ve been very thankful to support the tour and play some wonderful events.
Rahm, 31, has been widely criticized for being the only one of nine LIV players in his situation not to drop his appeal and accept the DPWT’s requirements to maintain membership. Fellow European Ryder Cup star Rory McIlroy said he thought it was “a really generous deal,” and likened it to the one that Brooks Koepka agreed to in order to return to the PGA Tour.
Rahm said Masters week is not the time to be talking about his situation with the DPWT, but insisted that he has already shown a willingness to seek a compromise.
“We keep trying to negotiate. I have given in quite a bit in a few things — we’re going to work it out,” he said. “As of now, the DP World Tour is doing what they need to do and following the channels they need to follow, but I’m confident this will be sorted out before I tee it up in September.”
–Derek Harper, Field Level Media
