GOLF: Jon Rahm: DP World Tour 'extorting players' with 6-event requirement

Jon Rahm issued a fiery statement on Tuesday explaining why he refused to sign the waiver required by the DP World Tour (DPWT) to compete in its events.

Eight LIV Golf players—Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig, and Elvis Smylie—agreed to the DPWT’s conditions. These include paying any pending fines, competing in a minimum number of DPWT tournaments, and dropping outstanding appeals.

Rahm criticized the requirements, saying they amounted to “extorting players like myself.” According to media reports, he owes the DPWT a fine of $2 million to $3 million. Rahm added that the tour also demanded he play in six events, including two selected by the DPWT.

“I don’t know what game they’re trying to play right now,” Rahm said. “It just seems like they are using us to capitalize on our impact in tournaments, fining us, and trying to benefit both ways from what we have to offer. It’s extortion, in a way, against players like me and young players who 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.”

Rahm also said he offered a compromise to play four events, as the minimum rules allow, but the DPWT did not accept it.

“I just refuse to play six events. I don’t want to, and that’s not what the rules say,” he said. “I’ve always committed to play the minimum requirement on the DPWT. I’ve played four events, including the Spanish Open, every year except one as a pro, and I still fully intend to do that.”

The 31-year-old Spaniard’s stance could make him ineligible to compete for the European team at the 2027 Ryder Cup in Limerick, Ireland. Rahm has been part of the European squad for the past four competitions, winning three titles with a 9-5-3 record.

In contrast, Hatton, a four-time Ryder Cup team member, secured eligibility by agreeing to the DPWT terms.

“I’ll gladly pay my way to go to the Ryder Cup, not have to pay to remain a member of the DP World Tour, and fulfill a commitment I’m fully willing to commit to,” Rahm said.

Despite off-course drama, Rahm is performing strongly on the field. He finished as runner-up in the first two LIV Golf events of the season, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Adelaide, Australia. He now looks ahead to the tournament in Hong Kong, starting Thursday.

“Happy with my play so far,” Rahm said. “I wish I could have converted one of those wins.”

—Field Level Media/Reuters