In a move that could affect the future of international golf, LIV Golf has reportedly informed its players that it will no longer cover the fines given by the DP World Tour for competing in LIV events that clash with European tournaments. That’s a $20 million shift in tone, and the ripple effects may be felt all the way to the Ryder Cup.
Now, for 2025 at Bethpage? Nothing’s changing yet. The players affected—namely Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton—have ongoing appeals in motion. But what about 2027 in Ireland? That’s where things get spicy.
Ryder Cup’s European Future in Jeopardy?
Here’s the immediate headline: LIV is out of the fine-paying business. And if Rahm and Hatton lose their appeals—as is likely based on that 2023 UK arbitration ruling—they’ll be expected to cough up every fine they’ve racked up. Rahm has said pretty plainly: he’s not doing it.
That leaves the DP World Tour with a choice: stand firm, or make an exception for two of their biggest Ryder Cup stars. But according to insiders? That’s not going to fly.
“There would be outrage if the Tour caved in,” one source told The Telegraph. And let’s be honest: they’re probably right. If Rahm and Hatton get a free pass, you can bet the rest of the LIV crew will be lining up with their hands out.
Strategic Alliance or Strategic Nightmare?
The DP World Tour has been walking a tightrope for the past two years, balancing its “strategic alliance” with the PGA Tour while trying not to completely alienate LIV players. But with no finalized peace deal between the PGA Tour and LIV’s Saudi backers, the bridge between the tours is more like a minefield.
What’s more, if the DP World Tour does soften its stance, it risks fracturing its alliance with the PGA Tour entirely. But if it doesn’t? A diluted European Ryder Cup squad becomes a very real possibility.
The core issue? LIV players—many of whom are European stars—want to continue competing in events like the Spanish Open or the Dunhill Links. And fans want to see them there. However, the fine structure, which varies by player and event and remains unclear, continues to be a roadblock.
No Easy Way Out
Let’s call it what it is: a standoff. LIV won’t pay. Rahm won’t pay. The DP World Tour won’t budge. And the PGA-LIV merger that was supposed to make all of this moot? It’s been stuck in neutral for months.
So what happens next? If nothing changes, Europe might be without some of its top-tier players when the Ryder Cup rolls into Ireland in 2027. That’s not just bad news for fans—it’s bad news for the competition itself.
Golf’s civil war may have quieted down, but don’t let the silence fool you. The battle lines are still drawn, and unless someone gives soon, one of golf’s greatest events might start looking like just another exhibition.
