Rory McIlroy has urged Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm to demonstrate their commitment to the Ryder Cup by settling fines incurred for their LIV Golf participation. The fines, totalling several million pounds, stem from tournament conflicts with the DP World Tour, where both golfers remain members. Both have lodged appeals against the sanctions, but cases are still pending.
McIlroy referenced the motivation used by Europe during their 2023 victory at Bethpage, after it emerged that US players were paid for the Ryder Cup. 'Yes, absolutely,' the Masters champion said when asked if the pair should settle their debts. 'We went really hard on the Americans about being paid to play the Ryder Cup and we also said that we would pay to play in Ryder Cups. There's two guys that can prove it.'
McIlroy's sentiment is believed to be shared by other senior figures in Europe's Ryder Cup contingent. He emphasised the DP World Tour's right to uphold its rules, adding that members sign a document agreeing to those rules each year. 'The people that made the option to go to LIV knew what they were. So I don't see what's wrong with that,' he said.
Hatton, who shrugged off McIlroy's comments, said he had nothing to add and reiterated his pride in being a DP World Tour member. 'It's still with legal teams and there's guys that are still in conversations working it all out,' he stated. 'I don't really know what's happening. I'm just here to play golf, as always.'
McIlroy also reiterated that a unified sport involving the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV remains unlikely. 'I just don't see a world where it can happen at this point,' he said, adding that the traditional tours have weathered the worst of the storm. 'For reunification to happen, every side is going to feel like they will have lost.'
