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Jon Rahm has said he has no intention of paying his outstanding DP World Tour fines as the controversy over his Ryder Cup eligibility continues.
The Spaniard was a key figure in Rome last year as Europe reclaimed the trophy.
But Rahm’s participation in next year’s competition against the United States in New York remains uncertain due to his transfer to LIV Golf.
He was fined for participating in Saudi-funded LIV tournaments that conflicted with DP World Tour events without seeking permission from the Europe-based circuit.
The 29-year-old must play three more tournaments before the season ends in November to retain his DP World Tour membership and be eligible to play at Bethpage in 2025.
Rahm has played in the Spanish Open, the Dunhill Links Championship and the Andalucia Masters but a DP World Tour spokesperson told BBC Sport that until the fines are paid “he is not eligible to play”.
Speaking at LIV Chicago on Wednesday, Rahm said: “I’m not a big fan of fines. I have no intention of paying them and we continue to try to have a discussion with them (DP World Tour) about how we can work that out.
“I intend to play in Spain. Whether they let me play or not is another matter.”
European players must play four DP World Tour events per year to retain their membership. Rahm’s appearance at the Paris Olympics counted as one.
“The Ryder Cup is more than just a match”
England’s Tyrrell Hatton, who teamed with Rahm to win both their foursomes matches at last year’s Ryder Cup, found himself in a similar situation after also joining LIV.
But Rahm’s Legion XIII team-mate was allowed to compete in last month’s British Masters after appealing his fines.
Players who originally joined LIV in 2022 appealed their suspensions and fines and were able to compete until April 2023, when an arbitration panel ruled in favor of the DP World Tour and ratified its right to enforce its rules.
And former European captain Padraig Harrington insists those rules must be respected.
“I’m very strict on the rules,” said the 2021 captain, who will be at the Irish Open this week.
“I’m friends with Jon, but if the rules are written, that’s how it is. The Ryder Cup is bigger than just a match. It’s the backbone of the European Tour.”
“The European Tour doesn’t have a lot of leverage to entice players to come back and play here. The Ryder Cup is the carrot we use to entice people to come back.
“It’s a very difficult situation for Luke Donald and the Ryder Cup, but if the 12th player who qualified by the rules is eliminated, he’s not going to be happy if someone else didn’t play by the rules. We can’t forget that person.”
Speaking just after Rahm’s seismic move to LIV last December, Rory McIlroy said the European Tour was “going to have to rewrite the rules of eligibility for the Ryder Cup” because “we would certainly miss Jon and we would need him at Bethpage.”
Europe were beaten 19-9 at Whistling Straits on their last visit to the United States in 2021, and although a 16½-11½ victory in Rome avenged that defeat – with Rahm and Hatton unbeaten in their four matches – the 2025 Ryder Cup in New York promises to be another tough assignment.
However, Donald told BBC Sport last month: “There will not be a situation where we appoint one person to change the rule.”
He added: “The policy is very clear: either you pay the fines or you can appeal, and during that appeal period you can still participate in certain DP World Tour events, so Jon absolutely knows what is required.”
