As the Ryder Cup 2025 looms, cracks are appearing in the unity of Team Europe—at least when it comes to LIV Golf inclusion. While U.S. captain Keegan Bradley embraces a broader vision, inviting LIV stars like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka to a recent Ryder Cup team dinner, European captain Luke Donald is staying silent—at least publicly—on the fate of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.

“I have had zero conversations,” Donald said during his PGA Championship press conference at Quail Hollow. “That’s a question for Guy Kinnings. I do not get involved with the politics of that. So, my concentration is to get the best 12 players to New York, and hopefully everyone is eligible.”

That’s a far cry from Bradley’s open-arms approach. DeChambeau, the reigning U.S. Open champion, and Koepka, a five-time major winner, were among those invited to a recent team gathering. “It was great to have them there,” Bradley said. “No one cares about what’s going on in this side PGA Tour-LIV. We’re trying to put the best team together.” Bradley emphasized performance over politics. “Winning on the LIV is difficult. You can see guys—winning a LIV event is a big deal,” he said. “It could mean there’s one LIV guy, two LIV guys, it doesn’t matter.”

That contrast in tone is striking. Bradley is building bridges between golf’s warring factions. Donald, while respected for guiding Europe to victory in 2023, is sticking to the safe lane. The difference could impact who makes the trip to Bethpage Black this fall. Team USA is stacked, with names like Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, and Collin Morikawa leading the points race. DeChambeau currently holds one of six automatic spots. Bradley will round out the team with six captain’s picks following the Tour Championship.

Donald’s team is still a mystery, partly because of lingering eligibility questions for Rahm and Hatton—both of whom joined LIV Golf in 2024. If they’re blocked from selection, it could cost Europe dearly. One thing’s clear: As the PGA Tour and LIV Golf remain at an impasse, the Ryder Cup is becoming more than just a battle between continents—it’s a test of golf’s fractured future. And no player better embodies that uncertainty than Jon Rahm, whose own Ryder Cup fate now hangs in the balance.

Rahm leaves the door open and the decision to Luke Donald

Jon Rahm’s move to LIV Golf more than a year ago created a ripple effect that continues to complicate his Ryder Cup hopes. His defection triggered fines and a suspension from the DP World Tour, jeopardizing his eligibility for Europe’s 2025 team at Bethpage Black. In an effort to preserve that eligibility, Rahm appealed the penalties upon returning to play in Spain last fall. Yet with his legal resolution unlikely to arrive before the September matches, his path onto the team rests on results, and the captain’s discretion.

Back in January, Rahm was clear about his ambitions: “I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, but I can tell you my plan is to be on that team at Bethpage.” But at Quail Hollow, he danced around the same question repeatedly. Asked whether Donald had privately assured him a spot, Rahm responded, “That’s a question for Luke. It’s his team. Hopefully I can qualify, and we don’t have to question it. I would like to think that personally I am, but it’s not up to me.” Pressed again, he added, “You’d have to ask Luke that question. It’s not up to me to say.” For now, Rahm waits—just like the rest of us.