Rory McIlroy has said that he believes Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton should pay around $6 million in DP World Tour fines if they want to play in the next Ryder Cup. McIlroy’s comments have added fuel to a dispute that has been building in golf over the past year. However, many fans have disagreed with the Northern Irishman, insisting there is no need for Rahm and Hatton to pay the fines to prove their commitment to the Ryder Cup.
McIlroy Wants Rahm and Hatton To Prove Their Ryder Cup Commitment By Paying Fines
McIlroy believes Rahm and Hatton made their own choices by joining Saudi-backed LIV Golf and should now accept the consequences. The DP World Tour fined both players for missing events that clashed with LIV Golf tournaments, and McIlroy says paying those fines is part of showing respect for the rules they agreed to when they kept their DP World Tour memberships.
The total fines Rahm and Hatton are facing are estimated to be approximately $6 million combined. Rahm has suggested his personal share is about €3 million (roughly $3.2 million) for the past two seasons but has questioned the fairness of the penalties. He has also expressed openness to negotiating a lower sum to settle the dispute, though no agreement has been reached.
“Yeah, absolutely. My thing is look, this is my opinion. We went really hard on the Americans last year about wanting paid to play the Ryder Cup and we all sat up there and said that we would pay to play in Ryder Cups. There’s two guys that can prove it. Right, I think that’s- yeah”
“Stop The Whining”: Fans Slams McIlroy Over Fine Comments
Fans have jumped in support of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton following McIlroy’s comments that the pair should pay the DP World Tour fines if they want to feature in the next Ryder Cup. Many fans insisted that Rahm and Hatton should not have to pay anything to play in the Ryder Cup if they qualify for the team.
“Why should they be required to pay anything to play in the Ryder Cup IF they qualify for the team?? I’m confused? Rory says “these two guys can prove it by paying the fine” PROVE WHAT?? I think this is where Rory gets over his ski tips,” a fan said.
Fans were clearly not having it and one gave McIlroy a piece of his mind: “Just stop the whining already. I thought the Ryder Cup wasn’t about money and should be a representation of the best European and American players available to play regardless?”
Another fan added: “Rory trying his best to destroy the very thing that makes the European team strong! Please stop speaking and just play golf…..”
“In two months he’ll be saying the opposite. The best golfer of his generation, but his mouth. He has criticised Tour legends (Westwood, Poulter, Sergio…) who have done far more than him for the European Tour and the TC, and now he’s taking shots at Jon and Tyrrell… embarrassing,” another fan said.
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are still pursuing legal appeals against their sanctions. The DP World Tour has not cancelled their memberships due to the ongoing appeals, allowing them to compete in the 2023 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black under temporary status. However, the unresolved status of their fines means their place in the next Ryder Cup is now uncertain.
Main Photo Credit: © Jack Gruber-Imagn Images
