The Ryder Cup stands for honor, identity, and legacy. Rory McIlroy now challenges Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton to prove money doesn’t matter.
Rory McIlroy has taken a firm stance in the debate about LIV Golf players and Ryder Cup participation. While Team Europe has long emphasized that money plays no role in golf’s most prestigious team event, McIlroy now sees this as a crucial test. His message to Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton is clear: Those who said they would pay their own way to play in the Ryder Cup now have the opportunity to prove it.
\”This is my opinion: We have been very strict about American players being paid to play in the Ryder Cup, and we said we would pay to be part of the team ourselves. There are two players who now can prove that,\” said McIlroy, highlighting responsibility and credibility.
From Prize Money to Pride
Rahm and Hatton both play for LIV Golf and must pay fines to participate in a competing tour. The PGA and DP World Tour regulations are clear: as long as these sanctions exist, both players are ineligible for Ryder Cup selection.
Currently, the only realistic path to nomination is paying fines totaling around six million dollars, about one to one and a half million per year.
The situation is further complicated by the fundamental difference between Europe and the USA. American team members are paid for their Ryder Cup participation. Team Europe has always maintained that the sporting and emotional value of the competition outweighs any financial reward. European players have previously emphasized that they would pay to participate themselves.
Luke Donald expressed this mindset in his introduction speech for the 2025 Ryder Cup: \”It’s not about prize money or world ranking points. It’s about pride.\” It’s about representing your flag, leaving a legacy, inspiring new generations while honoring the past. Players are driven by something \”money can’t buy: purpose, brotherhood, and accountability.\”
Financial Question with Symbolic Weight
Financially, Rahm and Hatton are well able to afford this price. Rahm is said to have earned around $76 million in two years with LIV, plus an estimated signing bonus exceeding $200 million. Hatton has earned about $22 million plus a bonus of around $60 million.
The six million dollar fines would exceed by far what American players received at the last Ryder Cup. Therefore, paying these fines would be more than a formality—it would be a strong statement and a significant financial commitment in support of Team Europe.
From Broadway to Bethpage Black, New York was built on the backs of Europeans 🇪🇺#TeamEurope | #OurTimeOurPlace