Jon Rahm intends to retain his DP World Tour membership and remain eligible for the Ryder Cup, but he is still unsure whether the circuit’s leadership will allow him to play.
The three-time winner is three regular season events short of securing his member for next season, with the Olympic Games his only counting tournament thus far.
With this week’s Irish Open and next week’s BMW PGA Championship – the Tour’s blue riband event – clashing with LIV Golf tournaments, Rahm has only five regular season events to choose from to retain membership.
Ahead of LIV Golf’s Individual Championship, the Spaniard confirmed he has entered the Open de Espana and plans to play the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and Estrella Damm N.A Andalucia Masters.
But there remains a stumbling block.
The two-time Major champion is refusing to pay the fines he has racked up from the DP World Tour for playing LIV Golf events that clash with DP World Tour tournaments.
His LIV Golf teammate, Tyrrell Hatton, played the British Masters recently after lodging an appeal against the sanctions imposed by the Wentworth-based circuit, but Rahm has so far opted not to follow the same route.
With entries closing for the Open de Espana tomorrow, Rahm must either pay the fines or appeal them if he is to play in his home open.
“Still talking to the DP World Tour, I intend to play in Spain,” Rahm told reporters.
“I’m entered into the tournament. We entered a long time ago. Whether they let me play or not is a different thing. I’m not a big fan of the fines.
“I think I’ve been outspoken about that. I don’t intend to pay the fines, and we keep trying to have a discussion with them about how we can make this happen.
“I’ve said many times, I don’t go to the Spanish Open for the glory or anything else. I think it’s my duty to Spanish golf to be there, and I also want to play in Sotogrande.
“At that point, it would almost be doing not only me but Spanish golf a disservice by not letting me play, so yeah, that’s why we’re trying to talk to them and make that happen.
“I would also love to play the Dunhill. I have a good friend who asked me to play, and Johan has been a great, great ambassador for the game of golf. I would love to be able to play all those events.”
Rahm currently leads the way in LIV Golf’s individual standings, and should he remain there following the conclusion of the Individual Championship, he will pocket a whopping $18m bonus from the Saudi-backed circuit.
