Rahm criticizes DP World Tour’s requirement for six events as ‘extortion’
LIV Golf League captain Jon Rahm on Tuesday accused the DP World Tour of attempting to “extort” golfers and stated he will not agree to participate in six events on the European tour each year.
Speaking prior to this week’s LIV Golf tournament in Hong Kong, Rahm informed reporters that he declined to finalize an agreement with the DP World Tour due to his discontent with the terms, which mandated that the tour would select two of the six events he would need to enter.
“I don’t know what game they’re trying to play right now, but it just seems like in a way they’re using our impact in tournaments and fining us and trying to benefit both ways from what we have to offer,” Rahm remarked. “[I]t’s just in a way they’re extorting players like [me] and young players that have nothing to do with the politics of the game.
“So, I don’t like the situation and I’m not going to agree to that.”
The two-time major champion indicated he would sign an agreement with the DP World Tour if he were only obligated to play four events each season.
“They haven’t agreed to that,” Rahm stated. “I just refuse to play six events. I don’t want to, and that’s not what the rules say.”
On February 21, the DP World Tour granted conditional releases to eight of its members, excluding Rahm, to participate in LIV Golf League events this season.
Previously, Rahm mentioned that he did not plan to pay fines imposed by the DP World Tour, which are reportedly as high as $3 million.
The DP World Tour announced that it had granted releases to Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig, and Elvis Smylie to compete in the LIV Golf League this season.
A statement from the DP World Tour indicated that the golfers had agreed to settle all outstanding fines for breaching the tour’s regulations; participate in more tournaments than the required four to maintain their membership; and withdraw all pending appeals.
On Tuesday, Rahm pointed out that he had also been a member of the PGA Tour while competing on the DP World Tour and was not required to obtain releases to participate in PGA Tour events.
“I’ve always been a dual member,” Rahm said. “Never once have I been asked for a release to play either one of those tours. We’ve never submitted a release. So why is it now that we need to be offering this and there’s all these penalties? I understand why they’re doing it. What’s the problem?
“I just don’t like the situation. I think we should be able to freely play where we want and have the choice to play where we want and not [dictate] what we do, especially myself. I can’t speak for others, only myself.”
Last season, Rahm participated in three DP World Tour events outside the majors: Hero Dubai Desert Classic, BMW PGA Championship, and Spanish Open.
Rahm, Hatton, and Meronk appealed their previous sanctions in September, which permitted them to continue competing in DP World Tour events. The trio faced discipline for participating in LIV Golf events that coincided with the European circuit’s tournaments.
This appeal allowed Hatton and Rahm to be part of the victorious European Ryder Cup team that defeated the U.S. 15-13 at Bethpage Black Course in New York in September.
It remains unclear when a third-party arbiter will address Rahm’s appeal. His case must be resolved for him to take part in the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in County Limerick, Ireland.
“I’ll gladly pay my way to go on the Ryder Cup, not have to pay to still be a member of the DP World Tour and fulfill a commitment that I’m fully willing to commit,” Rahm stated on Tuesday.
