Joining LIV Golf, the players knew it would have economical repercussions in one way or another. For the European members, though, it has come at the expense of their DP World Tour Memberships. Since they joined the Saudi-backed league, the PIF has been filling fines for them just so they can be members on the tour. However, things changed since April 2023.

Then, the European league won the lengthy legal battles over LIV Golfers. It couldn’t ban them or their memberships. But that win allowed them, “the right to impose sanctions in the form of fines and suspensions against the relevant players for breaching its conflicting tournament regulation.” And that brings us to Jon Rahm.

To be eligible for the 2025 Ryder Cup match, European LIV Golfers like him and fellow Legion XIII teammate and Ryder Cupper, Tyrrell Hatton, need at least four DP World Tour appearances outside of the Majors to be eligible for the match. Rahm, with three more required after the Olympics appearance, did not pay his fines and instead appealed for the outstanding fines clearly stating how he is “not a big fan of the fines.” Fast-forward to now, and the LIV Golf is taking its steps back.

According to Telegraph Sport, LIV Golf has told its players it will stop covering DP World Tour fines after this year, a decision that could impact Europe’s Ryder Cup team by as early as 2026. Until now, LIV Golf has covered around £15 million (approximately $20M) in sanctions. Although given the 2023 win, Rahm’s and Hutton’s appeal might go to waste. In that case, LIV Golf has £8-10 million more potentially left outstanding.

Interestingly, Rahm and Hatton’s appeal hearing will take place after the Ryder Cup, ensuring their eligibility for the 2025 Ryder Cup. However, given the DP World Tour’s 2023 victory involving players like Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood, their appeal is likely to be unsuccessful, resulting in additional millions in fines.

While this would be a financial boost for the DP World Tour, it poses a significant challenge for the players, as LIV Golf plans to stop covering fines after this year, leaving them to pay out of pocket to maintain DP World Tour membership and Ryder Cup eligibility.

Already, Jon Rahm’s manager has made it clear in a letter to DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings that Rahm “has no intention of paying any fines.” This raises concerns about whether Rahm’s fellow LIV golfer Tyrrell Hatton would be willing to pay an expected £1 million per season in fines to maintain his DP World Tour membership and Ryder Cup eligibility.

The DP World Tour could avert this issue by changing its rules, but doing so might alienate its loyal members who refused LIV Golf’s offers, potentially creating internal friction within the Tour. The US Ryder Cup team doesn’t face the same issue, as it’s managed by the PGA of America, separate from the PGA Tour, which still has LIV Golf defectors suspended. Despite the ongoing battle between LIV Golf and the DP World Tour, one LIV pro is upset with the Tour for an entirely different reason.

Lee Westwood accuses DP World Tour of double standards

This April, Lee Westwood accused the DP World Tour of “manipulating” the situation to allow Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton to compete in this year’s Ryder Cup. Westwood claimed during an interview with The i Paper,

“The tour have not treated everyone the same way. They have not treated Rahm and Hatton the same way they treated me, Poults [Poulter] and Stenson and the like. They have manipulated the situation. They haven’t paid their fines either, but their appeal dates have been pushed back until after the Ryder Cup. They have basically kicked the can down the road for those players. They keep fining them but they will be eligible for the team.”

In 2023, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, and Henrik Stenson gave up their DP World Tour memberships, ruling them out of future Ryder Cup participation, including any potential captaincy roles. Westwood, who has appeared in 11 Ryder Cups, expressed regret over the situation, saying in 2023, “I never would have believed it had ended like this and there has to be a bit of sadness, of course.”

Regardless, Westwood expressed interest in being captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor, stating, “The appeal went the way of the tour so I resigned my membership because I wasn’t prepared to keep getting fined. I would love to sit down with them and carve a way to come back together…. If I was asked to be captain at Adare Manor, I would jump at the chance. But certain things have to change. Rapprochement is necessary.” So, at this point, the case is obvious – LIV pros do not only have frustration with LIV Golf but also the DP World Tour.