[Photo: Andrew Redington]
Two-time major champion and current LIV Golf player Jon Rahm has withdrawn his appeal against outstanding sanctions levied against him by the DP World Tour, but he remains on an island when it comes to his future status on the circuit.
RELATED: Jon Rahm criticises DP World Tour for fines and appearance requirements: ‘They’re extorting players’
Golf.com first reported on Friday Rahm’s move to drop the appeal on March 10 that he originally filed back in 2024, while the story also said Rahm has no intention of paying his outstanding fines. Golf Digest has previously reported those penalties to be less than $US3 million.
In February, eight LIV Golf players, but not Rahm, reached a deal with the DP World Tour allowing them to compete freely on both circuits. Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and others were permitted to play in DP World Tour events while appealing fines accumulated for defecting to the Saudi-backed circuit. That included participating in last year’s Ryder Cup, at which Rahm also played in Europe’s win.
Then the DP World Tour issued conditional releases to Hatton – along with Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig and Australia’s Elvis Smylie – to play in future LIV Golf events that conflict with DP World Tour events under three stipulations: that they pay all outstanding fines, participate in a set number of DP World Tour events (along with associated media activity and promotion) and withdraw all pending appeals.
Rahm baulked at those requirements – particularly the minimum number of DP World Tour starts needed – and was highly critical of the DP World Tour while speaking ahead of LIV’s event in Hong Kong, which he ultimately won.
“I don’t know what game they’re (the DP World Tour) trying to play right now,” he said, “but it just seems like in a way… they’re using our impact in tournaments and fining us and trying to benefit both ways from what we have to offer. It’s just in a way they’re extorting players like myself, and young players that have nothing to do with the politics of the game. So I don’t like the situation and I’m not going to agree to that.
“They’re asking me to play a minimum of six events, and they dictate where two of those have to be, amongst other things that I don’t agree with,” Rahm said. “I did tell them, funny enough, lower that to four events, like the minimum says, and I’ll sign tonight. They haven’t agreed to that. I just refuse to play six events. I don’t want to, and that’s not what the rules say.”
With Rahm’s appeal over, he will be expected to pay the fines or face losing membership on the DP World Tour, and, of large consequence, not be eligible for the 2027 Ryder Cup that is set to be played at Adare Manor in Ireland.
