Luke Donald provides Ryder Cup update on Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton with 'pathway' for LIV stars
It remains to be seen whether Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton will be able to compete at the Ryder Cup next year, but one man who wants them there is Team Europe captain Luke Donald
Luke Donald has revealed the pathway for Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton to compete at next year's Ryder Cup remains open, despite the complexities surrounding their LIV Golf loyalties.
Rahm and Hatton played instrumental roles in Europe's victory over the United States last October under the guidance of Donald. The pair would have been towards the top of the captain's list to make the team again at Bethpage Black next year, but their decision to make the move to LIV has raised question marks.
Competing on the breakaway circuit does not make players ineligible to compete for Team Europe but it does come with some problems. To be part of Donald's plans in 2025, players must be members of the DP World Tour.
READ MORE: LIV Golf stars get massive OWGR lifeline with world ranking alternative offered
READ MORE: Open boss has simple message for LIV Golf - and it could be bad news for Talor Gooch
As things stand both Rahm and Hatton remain part of the European circuit, but face fines and suspensions for competing in 'conflicting' LIV events. This ruling has seen a number of Europe's big names who made the Saudi switch hand in their Tour memberships ineligible.
Furthermore, to hold onto memberships players must player four DP World Tour events in a season, an issue for Rahm and Hatton due to their LIV duties and suspensions for competing away from the Wentworth-based circuit. It remains to be seen whether the LIV pairing will be able to fulfil these requirements, but Donald believes the opportunities are there to do so.
"I believe there is still time," Donald told reporters ahead of this week's Open Championship on the status of Rahm and Hatton. "There are ongoing conversations between the DP World Tour and their management. They know what the pathway is, it hasn’t really changed.
For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US .
"There is a pathway for them to be eligible. From my standpoint I’d love to be able to pick anyone I can and I want to have the strongest players I can have. There is a pathway to the team for those guys and I hope they are [on the team]." He went on: "I’m not getting involved in the decisions.
"I am listening to both sides but it is not something I have control of so I’m not really putting a lot of time and effort into it because it’s a little bit out of my control. I know discussions are going on, I know the Tour want it to happen, I know Jon and Tyrrell want it to happen but I’m not privy to the ins and outs but hopefully it will work out for everyone."
Rahm himself addressed the issue during his pre-Open press conference on Tuesday, claiming he is yet to pay his fines, but has every intention of playing the Spanish Open on the DP World Tour if it fits around his family life, with his wife Kelley currently pregnant. I haven't paid [fines] yet, but again, I just don't know when I'm going to play," he claimed.
"I want to tee it up hopefully at the Spanish Open. At this point, I'm so still waiting on what might happen with my wife and daughter that I don't know if I'll be able to play or not. So my fall is still a little bit of a question mark when it comes to playing golf."
Luke Donald was speaking in his role as ambassador for OptimallyMe, the leading health technology company that aims to revolutionise personal health through data. To find out more and start your personalised health journey, visit www.optimallyme.com.
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
