LEADING Spanish golfer Jon Rahm has agreed to cough up almost €3 million in fines in order to secure his place at the next Ryder Cup.
The former world number one played a starring role in Europe’s historic victory at Bethpage Black last September, but would have been ineligible for next year’s competition at Adare Manor in Ireland amid a row over his ongoing participation on the rebel LIV Golf tour.
Rahm, 31, has been embroiled in a long-running dispute with the European-run DP World Tour and has refused to pay millions of euros in fines for playing on the controversial Saudi-run LIV circuit without official permission.
That made the Basque-born star ineligible for DP World Tour events, in which European hopefuls have to participate in order to guarantee a spot for the Ryder Cup – golf’s most prestigious team event.
But Rahm will now be allowed to represent Europe next year after striking a deal, despite previously stating that he would never pay a fine.
“There’s no longer a stand-off,” the two-time major winner said at LIV Virginia near Washington DC.
“There were some concessions on both sides. I offered some and they extended an olive branch. That will not be a stress anymore.”
As part of the deal, Rahm will pay almost €3 million in fines owed to the DP World Tour.
He will also play in a minimum of five official tournaments prior to the Ryder Cup, held in County Limerick, Ireland in September 2027.
“The DP World Tour and Jon Rahm have come to an agreement on conditional releases to play in conflicting tournaments on LIV Golf during the remainder of its 2026 season,” a spokesperson for DP World Tour said.
“This involves payment of all outstanding fines accrued from 2024 to date, along with participation in agreed DP World Tour tournaments (outside the majors) in the remainder of the 2026 season.”
The surprise move comes less than a week after Saudi Arabia said it would no longer bankroll the rebel LIV Golf tour from the start of next season.
The country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) released a statement last Thursday which said that the ‘substantial investment’ required to support the tour was ‘no longer consistent with the current phase of PIF’s investment strategy’.
“LIV Golf has substantially grown the game globally through its transformational and positive impact. It has forever changed the game of golf for the better,” the statement read.
“PIF remains committed to deploying capital internationally in line with its investment strategy, including its substantial current and future investments in various sports.”
Rahm has played on the LIV Golf tour since putting pen-to-paper on a record-breaking €500 million deal in 2024.
He was crowned the LIV Golf individual champion in his first year on the tour, securing an eye-watering €16 million payday.
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