Jon Rahm of Spain and England's Tyrrell Hatton have a path to playing in the 2025 Ryder Cup for Europe. Now, they just must follow it.
Guy Kinnings, the CEO of the DP World Tour, said Rahm and Hatton won't be kept off Team Europe when they defend their title next year at Bethpage Black in New York, provided they meet minimum requirements. Since winning the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, the two European stars joined LIV Golf, but that won't necessarily be held against them, Kinnings told reporters from the United Kingdom and Ireland on Thursday in London.
Kinnings said that in looking at 2023 rules, a player must remain a member of the DP World Tour and play in four tour events, outside of the majors, to be eligible for Ryder Cup consideration.
"The reality is that until we announce the qualification process, which we don't need to do yet as that doesn't start for another four to five months, it's kind of speculation," he said, per The Scotsman.
"But, if you look at what the qualification/eligibility criteria were for 2023, then I think there has been a slight misconception because the reality is under the current rules, if a player is European and is a member of the DP World Tour and abides by the rules as they currently are - so, if you don't get a release, there are sanctions and if you accept those sanctions and take those penalties and work with that - there is no reason why players who've taken LIV membership but maintain membership with the DP World Tour could not a) qualify or b) be available for selection."
European stalwarts Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood renounced their DP World Tour memberships ahead of the 2023 event as they faced sanctions for playing in LIV Golf events without permission from the organisation. Therefore, they were ineligible for the Ryder Cup.