Jon Rahm has a problem. He is required to play four DP World Tour events this year to maintain his eligibility, which is required to play in next year's Ryder Cup. Leading into his last two LIV Golf events this year, Rahm has only played one event the DP World Tour counts toward its requirement of four: the Olympics.
While he will not be able to play in either of the next DP World Tour events two because of LIV Golf commitments, he has entered his name into the Spanish Open the week after LIV Dallas. It is up in the air, however, whether he is going to get to play. The DP World Tour is fining players for playing LIV events, but Rahm thus far has refused to pay the fines that would ostensibly allow him to play the Spanish Open, Andalucia Masters and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship to get to four.
"I'm entered into the [Spanish Open]" he said, per ESPN. "We entered a long time ago. Whether they let me play or not is a different thing. I'm not a big fan of the fines. I think I've been outspoken about that. I don't intend to pay the fines, and we keep trying to have a discussion with them about how we can make this happen.
"I've said many times, I don't go to the Spanish Open for the glory or anything else," he continued. "I think it's my duty to Spanish golf to be there, and I also want to play in Sotogrande [at the Andalucia Masters].
"At that point, it would almost be doing not only me but Spanish golf a disservice by not letting me play, so yeah, that's why we're trying to talk to them and make that happen," Rahm said. "I would also love to play the Dunhill. ... I would love to be able to play all those events."
Luke Donald said recently that Rahm knew what he was getting into, but he was hopeful that someone who will almost certainly be one of his stars next year at Bethpage -- where the Europeans will try to break a five-event streak in which the home team has won the Ryder Cup -- will be able to tee it up.
"I've had many conversations with Jon," Donald told the Telegraph. "He absolutely knows what the deal is. He knew when he signed for LIV what the policies were on the DP World Tour. You have to play your four.
"Per all the policies, he can pay the fines or he can appeal like some of the guys have, and that gives him the opportunity to do that," he continued. "It's really up to him to do that and become eligible. He certainly mentioned at the PGA Championship he was willing to do whatever it took to commit to me and the team. I hope that happens."
