Jon Rahm had every reason to feel stung when he missed out on automatic Ryder Cup qualification, but his response to Tyrrell Hatton’s golden moment spoke volumes. Instead of bitterness, Rahm joined his teammate for what Hatton later admitted was a “tear-up.” “Jon had just won individual, so we had a bit of a tear-up. That was a messy night.” Hatton recalled. Rahm’s celebration was the culmination of months of pressure for Hatton, who confessed that qualifying outright had been one of his biggest targets this season. “When I did actually get back into the room I fell across the bed sideways and face down in that position and then I’ve woken myself up throwing up in that position. I’ve then fallen back asleep in that position.”

Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm celebrated in true celebratory fashion, a night Hatton would later recount with self-deprecating humor. Furthermore, on X, Patrick McDonald shared what their ‘tear-up’ actually meant: “Tyrrell Hatton’s stat line from the night he earned his spot on the Ryder Cup team 6 glasses of wine 1 double gin and tonic Unknown # of disaronno sours A few hazelnut sours 1 margarita 1 strawberry vodka thing 1 nap at the table 1 stripped hotel bed.”

Hatton had set a clear goal at the start of the season: secure automatic qualification for the Ryder Cup. “Qualifying for the team automatically was one of my main goals for this year,” he said. “From my three previous Ryder Cups of always making the team automatically, I wanted to keep that going.” His fears peaked after The Open, where he thought he had blown his chance, but captain Luke Donald’s Sunday night phone call confirmed he’d made it. “That was a very nice phone call to receive,” Hatton said. “I was very — yeah, I was over the moon to be honest.”

But Rahm’s reaction to Hatton’s success carried a message beyond numbers and records. The pair, now teammates with LIV Golf’s Legion XIII, have built a bond Rahm himself acknowledged: “We’ve grown closer since we joined LIV.” That closeness turned what could have been a moment of envy into one of solidarity.

Rahm’s inclusion in the Ryder Cup, meanwhile, came through Donald’s captain’s pick. It was a decision widely expected, given Rahm’s Ryder Cup record of 6–3–3 and his status as one of Europe’s fiercest competitors. Donald emphasized exactly that when making the announcement: “Jon has been one of our leading performers in recent Ryder Cups. He brings intensity, passion and experience — qualities we will need at Bethpage.”

Hatton’s automatic qualification was the latest highlight in an already stellar career. An eight-time DP World Tour (European Tour) champion, he has claimed five Rolex Series titles and won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship three times. His maiden PGA Tour victory came at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2020, and he secured his first LIV Golf title at the 2024 LIV Golf Nashville event. Additionally, he has been a vital part of Europe’s Ryder Cup victories in 2018 and 2023.

While the Ryder Cup spotlight highlighted Hatton’s achievements, the bond between him and Rahm has grown even deeper off the traditional tours, especially since they both joined LIV Golf: a move that has transformed their friendship and competitive dynamic.

Jon Rahm’s evolving relationship with Tyrrell Hatton

Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are now teammates for Legion XIII on LIV Golf, spending significant time together and driving each other’s performances. Rahm recently opened up about how their relationship has evolved over the past 18 months: “I’ll tell you the one thing we’ve learned about each other—we’ve gotten to know a lot more about our taste in wine. At first it was like, I like it; I like it too. But then you get to know, okay, what do you like. So that’s been a bit more profound. One thing about both of us is that as much as we may act on the golf course, we’re not afraid to make fun of each other or make fun of ourselves… It’s a friendly competition as well within things, and I think that’s why it works so well.”

Their performances in 2025 reflect this mutual drive and the friendly competition between them. While neither Rahm nor Hatton has secured a victory so far this season, both have been impressively consistent in majors and LIV events. Rahm has recorded two top-10 finishes in the majors, along with four top-5s and nine top-10 finishes on the LIV Golf circuit. Hatton, meanwhile, has earned one top-10 in the majors and added two top-5s and three top-10 finishes on LIV Golf. Their consistency demonstrates that, even without a win yet this season, both players continue to perform at an elite level and push each other to improve.

Their friendly rivalry and shared experiences have strengthened both players’ games, with Rahm admitting that their camaraderie off the course only makes them more competitive when paired together or practicing side by side. As the 2025 Ryder Cup approaches, the European team, including both Rahm and Hatton, prepares for the formidable challenges of Bethpage Black. Rahm has acknowledged the “hostile environment” that awaits, but views it as an opportunity to showcase European unity and skill. Hatton, meanwhile, enters with confidence, experience, and the morale boost of celebrating a hard-earned accomplishment with his closest friend.