Though Suspended by the PGA Tour, LIV Golf's Jon Rahm Remains a DP World Tour Member
The PGA Tour moved swiftly to denounce Jon Rahm and disallowed him as a member this week.
The DP World Tour didn't follow suit.
According to DP World Tour representatives, Rahm is a member of the European-based tour for 2024 since he filed his membership forms last month before the deadline. That would make him eligible for the European Ryder Cup team under the rules in place for the 2023 Ryder Cup.
Jon Rahm filed for membership for the 2024 DP World Tour season prior to joining LIV Golf.
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When LIV Golf members Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood resigned their memberships in May, they lost their opportunity to play on the European Ryder Cup team in Italy since they were no longer members of the Tour.
In an interview with Sky Sports earlier this month, Rory McIlroy announced that not only did he have no ill-will towards Rahm joining LIV but that he wanted him on the European team at Bethpage Black in 2025.
"Jon is going to be in Bethpage in 2025 so, because of this decision, the European Tour (DP World Tour) are going to have to rewrite the rules for the Ryder Cup eligibility," McIlroy told Sky. “There’s absolutely no question about that—I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team.
According to a spokesman at the DP World Tour, there are no rules that need to be rewritten regarding eligibility criteria for the 2025 European Ryder Cup team since they have not yet been written and won’t be until sometime in 2024.
And with the qualification period for the 2025 Ryder Cup not due to begin for at least another nine months, much can happen between now and then.
European captain Luke Donald has always been steadfast about LIV golfers that are eligible to play on the Ryder Cup being part of the discussion.
Considering Rahm is currently ranked third in the world and was a major part of the European victory in Italy, it would seem Donald would not ignore bringing the Spaniard on if he is playing well.
"And let's not forget there's still LIV players that can still play on my team,” Donald said at Oak Hill before the 2023 PGA Championship. “They're still eligible if they're members of the Tour and were born in Europe. That is still a possibility for some guys."