Rory McIlroy has responded after LIV Golf attempted to strike a deal with the DP World Tour that would have dismissed outstanding fines and sanctions.
Rory McIlroy has responded after LIV Golf attempted to strike a deal with the DP World Tour that would have dismissed outstanding fines and sanctions.
Rory McIlroy says what he thinks could happen to the European Tour if deal with LIV Golf is agreed
Rory McIlroy has responded after LIV Golf attempted to strike a deal with the DP World Tour that would have dismissed outstanding fines and sanctions.
Jon Rahm owes the DP World Tour $1 million but has refused to pay his debt at
As a result, the Spaniard—along with Tyrrell Hatton—has thrown his 2025 Ryder Cup participation into doubt, with his DP World Tour membership is hanging by a thread.
Rahm has appealed in a bid to ensure he plays three more events to maintain his membership. However, in a fresh twist, LIV Golf made an offer to the DP World Tour.
LIV offered to pay the outstanding fines, but the DP World Tour declined.
McIlroy has since been asked about LIV Golf’s attempt to strike a deal, and the Northern Irishman has shared what could’ve happened if the DP World Tour had agreed to terms.
“Yeah, you know, if things don’t materialise with the PGA Tour, I think it would — you know, it would — I think it would maybe bring The European Tour back to like the ’80s and ’90s when there was like really two strong tours. But it keeps the game divided and I don’t like that,” McIlroy said ahead of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
“You know, I really want the game to come back together. It would be Plan B. It would be maybe an alternative to the best solution. And look, selfishly as a European, it would be wonderful to get that investment and to use that money in the right way for this tour.
“But it still keeps the game divided, which I just can’t quite get on board with, and I’d love to see everything and everyone come back together.”
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DP World Tour maintain strong stance amid LIV Golf offer
The DP World Tour, unlike the PGA Tour, has been steadfast in its approach since the emergence of LIV back in 2022.
If LIV players settle their fines and sanctions, they will be welcomed back into DP World Tour events.
Rahm and Hatton are entirely aware of this, and there’s a solid argument to suggest the duo should settle up and make themselves readily available for Luke Donald’s European Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black.
However, given the $1 million fine, it feels like the matter isn’t financially motivated. Rahm, in particular, feels his sanctions are unjust, and the Spaniard has dug his heels into the ground.
As the standoff continues, it will be intriguing to see if LIV returns with another offer to entice the DP World Tour into lessening the current restrictions.
Billy Horschel has made an incredibly bright start as he looks to win the BMW PGA Championship for a second time in his career, with the American shooting a five under par round of 67 at Wentworth.
Billy Horschel finds himself two shots off the lead after the opening day of the BMW PGA Championship, but it was a tough start for the 37-year-old. A wayward tee shot on the first resulted in Horschel putting his approach in the green side bunker and he was unable to get up and down from there.
But that would prove to be the final blemish on his card, with three birdies coming on each nine to leave Horschel in a tie with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry.
Of course, Horschel knows what it takes to win at Wentworth. He has always been happy to spend a number of weeks playing on the DP World Tour, and he won this particular event three years ago, finishing on 19 under par.
Billy Horschel shares what shocked him after the opening round of the BMW PGA Championship
There is a good opportunity for someone to go even lower this time around. However, speaking after his first round, Horschel suggested that he was seemingly expecting to be further adrift of the leader.
“It was a little challenging. I was shocked by the scores, weren’t as low as I thought. You know, the greens are slower than I’ve ever seen. They are receptive. They got a little bounce to them but the rough is down, so I thought scoring was going to be a lot lower than it was,” he said.
“But when you get out here and you see that the wind is blowing 10, 15, 20 miles per hour at times and it’s gusting a little bit, it’s a little bit of a challenge. I was happy with a solid round of golf. Just try to keep it as simple as I could.”
A better start than in 2021
While Horschel expected the scores to be even lower, it is notable that more than 70 players finished the opening round under par, and thus, you would imagine that being under par may not guarantee a place in the field at the weekend.
A number of players will be fancying their chances of breaking out from the pack over the next three days and seizing the initiative from the tournament.
Interestingly, Horschel actually started with a 70 when he won in 2021, finding himself six shots back of the lead. But 65s on Friday and Sunday saw him get across the line, so he will have his sights set on emulating that performance again after such a promising start.
As Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton lock horns with the DP World Tour, Justin Rose has reiterated his feelings on the LIV Golf duo ahead of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black next September.
Rahm owes the DP World Tour $1 million in fines and has lodged an appeal to ensure his membership remains intact along with his eligibility for the Ryder Cup.
It’s a similar story for Hatton, who competed at the British Masters after a separate appeal to the European authorities was made.
To maintain their membership, the LIV duo must compete in four DP World Tour-sanctioned events each year. However, if fines remain unpaid, they aren’t permitted to participate.
Justin Rose details Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton’s Ryder Cup thoughts
The Englishman, speaking before the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, has since claimed Rahm and Hatton both value the Ryder Cup extremely highly.
“But there’s quite a simple pathway for them to be on the team,” Rose said during his press conference. “So I don’t think — it’s going to come down to their own personal decisions, I think, but I think if they choose to cooperate or go with the structure that’s in place, they’ll absolutely be on the team. That’s the way I see it, really, to be honest with you. Yeah.”
The 2013 US Open winner added: “Yeah, I can’t speak for them. Obviously if they choose to not do whatever it takes to make the team, they’ve obviously got some very strong opinions on the structures that are in place, and I know how important the Ryder Cup would be to both Tyrrell and Jon, so I would be surprised if they didn’t figure it out.”
“But like I said, I don’t know quite where their heads are. But of course there is a scenario, absolutely, where conceivably they might choose not to be on the team.”
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Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton must settle DP World Tour differences
The fines are a drop in the ocean for Rahm and Hatton. If they were happy to pay them, the debts would’ve been settled by now.
Unfortunately, it’s clear the LIV pair aren’t happy with the reasoning behind their sanctions. Rahm believes he’s been penalised for events he wouldn’t usually participate in.
However, surely the saga has reached a stage where the duo should understand the DP World Tour’s stance and simply pay the fines?
Europe has a genuine chance to win on American soil for the first time in 13 years, but Rahm and Hatton’s presence will be vital for Luke Donald. The sooner this standoff ends, the better for all .
“There is no doubt McIlroy is not the finished article and there is an element of doubt, especially in majors when he gets to the back nine, but I’m really convinced that he is going to do it and get over the line.
“I have said it so often. The way you get over the line is not just waking up in the morning and doing it. You do it from validation and winning a tournament like this week is another step in the right direction, should he go on and do that, in terms of building up his confidence again.
McIlroy will get his fifth major eventually
Ian Poulter touched on Rory’s lack of major wins in the last decade this week and as Poulter mentions, even if he doesn’t win, McIlroy is one of the biggest draws in golf right now.
Eventually, McIlroy will get his win and from there, you can imagine the shackles will be off and there’s a chance he suddenly adds even more.