The Ryder Cup stands for honor, identity, and legacy. Rory McIlroy now demands proof from Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton that money doesn’t matter.
Rory McIlroy has taken a firm stance in the debate surrounding LIV Golf players and Ryder Cup participation. While Team Europe has long emphasized that money should play no role in the sport’s most iconic team competition, McIlroy now sees this as a key test. His message to Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton is clear: those who claimed they would pay to compete in the Ryder Cup now have the opportunity to prove it.
McIlroy Issues Clear Challenge to Rahm and Hatton
\”This is my opinion: we have been very strict about American players being paid to play in the Ryder Cup, and we have said that we would pay to participate as players. Now there are two players who can prove it,\” McIlroy stated, putting responsibility and credibility at the forefront early on.
Pride Over Prize Money
Rahm and Hatton both play for LIV Golf and face fines for participating in a competing tour. The rules of the PGA and DP World Tour are clear: as long as these sanctions remain, both players are ineligible for Ryder Cup selection. Currently, the only realistic path for nomination is paying penalties totaling around six million dollars—roughly one to one and a half million per year.
The gravity of the situation is highlighted by the fundamental difference between Europe and the USA. American team members are paid for their Ryder Cup participation, whereas Team Europe holds that the sporting and emotional value outweighs any financial reward. European players have previously asserted that they would pay to participate themselves. Luke Donald summarized this ethos in his 2025 Ryder Cup introduction speech: \”It’s not about prize money or world ranking points. It’s about pride.\” It’s about representing one’s flag, leaving a legacy, inspiring new generations, and honoring those who came before. Players are driven by something money cannot buy: purpose, brotherhood, and responsibility.
A Financial Question with Symbolic Weight
Financially, Rahm and Hatton are capable of paying this price. Rahm is reported to have earned around 76 million dollars with LIV in two years, plus an estimated signing bonus over 200 million dollars. Hatton has made about 22 million dollars and received a bonus around 60 million dollars.
The six million dollars in fines exceed what American players received at the last Ryder Cup by multiple folds. Therefore, covering these penalties would be more than a formality – it would send a strong signal and represent a significant financial commitment in favor of Team Europe.
From Broadway to Bethpage Black, New York was built on the backs of Europeans 🇪🇺#TeamEurope |