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Golf – The 2020 Ryder Cup – Whistling Straits, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, U.S. – September 25, 2021 Team Europe’s Jon Rahm reacts after hitting a shot into the water hazard on the 5th hole during the Foursomes REUTERS/Brian Snyder
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Golf – The 2020 Ryder Cup – Whistling Straits, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, U.S. – September 25, 2021 Team Europe’s Jon Rahm reacts after hitting a shot into the water hazard on the 5th hole during the Foursomes REUTERS/Brian Snyder
It looks like Jon Rahm’s desire to partner with a countryman in the upcoming Ryder Cup is over. According to the latest reports, the Spaniard second to the two-time major winner has been hit with a month-long ban, which could diminish his chances of securing a direct qualification to the biennial event.
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But why is this player taken down by the DP Tour themselves? And why is the whole incident hushed over? Here’s a detailed report on the misdeeds and punishment faced by 30-year-old Adrian Otaegui.
Why is Adrian Otaegui suspended by the DP World Tour?
For context, the four-time winner on the European Tour stands sixth in the points table, behind the likes of Rahm, who tops the ranking. Only the top three players make it to the automatic qualification spots, while others have to pray for a wildcard entry.
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Hence, players like Otaegui still have a lot to compete for ahead of September’s Ryder Cup. But in spite of his situation, the DP Tour has leveraged a $300,000 fine from the golfer and suspended him till the end of the month.
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May 25, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; A general view of the 16th tee as Harry Hall plays a shot during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
This is due to Otaegui’s involvement with the LIV Golf Series. The Spaniard was on the field in the breakaway league’s initial season. However, he failed to capture a permanent spot in the 48-member league, which prompted him to go back to his home tour.
What sanctions did DP World Tour leverage on Otaegui?
Last month, the DP World Tour secured a major victory in its lawsuit against the LIV Golf defectors. The judgment prompted the former to sue its formerly contracted players, many of whom had to pay huge fines to settle the issue.
The Telegraph reports Otaegui has paid fines totalling roughly $300,000 for appearing in a quartet of LIV Golf events and has also accepted that he cannot tee it up again until after the British Mastershttps://t.co/hPNCzsdTJN
— Irish Golfer (@IrishGolferMag) June 8, 2023
Many were forced to give up on their memberships due to warnings of further penalties, which eliminated any remaining chances of securing a Ryder Cup participation. However, Otaegui further resisted the improbable, which meant he was sanctioned a further $300,000 and hit with a four-event DP Tour ban.
It means the Spaniard won’t be on the field until the Made In Denmark open, which begins on July 6th. A wildcard entry looks unlikely considering his previous LIV Golf alliances, which could effectively make Rahm the only Spanish golfer to contest the Ryder Cup this year.
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Written by
Edited by
Manaal Siddiqui