DP World Tour reject LIV Golf’s offer to pay Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton fines

LIV Golf’s attempt to strike a deal with the DP World Tour and ‘wipe out penalties’ for the likes of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton has been rejected, per Sports Illustrated.

The DP World Tour has denied LIV Golf’s proposal to eliminate penalties for players like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, as reported by Sports Illustrated’s Bob Harig.

The most recent update was released a week after Rahm, who is 29 years old, decided to challenge his fines from the DP World Tour in order to maintain his chances for the 2025 Ryder Cup. Hatton, who is 32 years old, recently made a similar choice.

LIV Golf’s Legion XIII duo are now permitted to return to DP World Tour events having appealed against their fines for playing in LIV Golf events without permission this year.

Rahm and Hatton were eager to get back onto the DP World Tour this season in order to maintain their membership of the DP World Tour and the European Ryder Cup team.

In order to fulfil DP World Tour membership and represent Luke Donald’s 2025 European Ryder Cup team, players must compete in at least four regular season events outside of the majors.

Rahm and Hatton will now both get to do that before the DP World Tour season concludes in Dubai this November.

They are both scheduled to play in next week’s Open de Espana, followed by the Dunhill Links in early October.

Rahm will also compete in the Andalucia Masters next month too.

Jon Rahm has a pending appeal against sanctions imposed on him and in accordance with the DP World Tour’s Regulations, he is eligible to participate in the acciona Open de España presented by Madrid later this month,” confirmed a DP World Tour spokesperson.

The same statement was given in relation to Hatton, who made his return to the DP World Tour at the British Masters earlier this month.

Another LIV Golf pro who has also appealed a DP World Tour fine is Adrian Meronk, a player who many consider was unfortunate to miss out on a first European Ryder Cup team in Rome last year.

But in a latest bombshell update dropped by Sports Illustrated’s Bob Harig, the Saudi-bankrolled circuit reportedly attempted to strike a deal to pay off all outstanding fines for LIV Golf players looking to get back onto the DP World Tour and keep Ryder Cup bids alive.

Only those above at the DP World Tour reportedly stood firm and rejected LIV’s offer.

“According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Sports Illustrated has learned that prior to the back-and-forth between Rahm and the DP World Tour last week that saw him appeal his sanctions—allowing him to play in upcoming events—LIV Golf sought to strike a deal with the DP World Tour that would wipe out the penalties for LIV players while offering various concessions and a monetary payout from the league,” writes Harig.

“The DP World Tour, which has its flagship event this week, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, declined the offer.”

Harig adds: “The source said that LIV Golf sought a resolution in August that would eliminate the fines and clear the way for LIV players to compete in DP World Tour events without the various restrictions.

LIV representatives met with DP World Tour officials and proposed schedule adjustments that would assure LIV events would not be played against some of the Tour’s more prominent events (such as this week’s LIV Golf Dallas tournament, which is the same time as the DP World Tour’s BMW PGA Championship), an exemption category for DP World Tour players into the 10 International Series events on the Asian Tour that carry $2 million purses, and cash.

“The amount was to be £6m to put towards purses with the ability to add more if needed.

“The offer was rejected.”

In response to Harig’s article, a DP World Tour spokesman told GolfMagic: “We met with them [LIV] and listened to their proposal but did not accept it, as our view remains that the focus should continue to be on all stakeholders working together to reach an overall solution that benefits our sport.”

LIV Golf has allegedly disbursed approximately £12 million in penalties for its players to participate in DP World Tour competitions.

Bernd Wiesberger, a participant in the recent Irish Open, expressed disappointment in the DP World Tour for permitting the return of Rahm and Hatton to the circuit while their fines were still being appealed.

It has been reported that an additional £10 million in outstanding fines from DP World Tour remain unpaid by LIV Golf players. According to a reliable source, the DP World Tour is adversely impacting its own events and sponsorships due to the obstacles it is facing. It is known that Rahm’s current penalties within the DP World Tour have accumulated to $1 million.

“A determination regarding the appeals filed by Rahm, Hatton, and Meronk is not anticipated to be made until the commencement of 2025.” In April 2023, the DP World Tour emerged victorious in a UK arbitration proceeding, enabling them to impose penalties on individuals associated with LIV Golf. Ian Poulter, Adrian Otaegui, Justin Harding, along with several other individuals, sought to challenge the fines imposed by the DP World Tour in mid-2022.

Following the conclusion of that determination, several longstanding members of the former European Tour, now affiliated with LIV Golf, including Poulter, Sergio Garcia, and Lee Westwood, chose to resign from their memberships with the circuit.

As per the current eligibility regulations, the decisions rendered imply that none of them will have the opportunity to compete in or lead a European Ryder Cup squad in the coming years. Numerous European supporters are likely concerned about the future of their prominent stars, Rahm and Hatton, who recently demonstrated their prowess as a formidable duo during a significant competition in Rome in 2023.

If Rahm and Hatton fail to qualify for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, it could potentially lead to a challenging week for Team Europe. Rory McIlroy himself is aware of this potential outcome.