The Ryder Cup is about honor, identity, and legacy. Rory McIlroy now challenges Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton to prove that money doesn’t matter.
McIlroy Delivers a Clear Message to Rahm and Hatton
Rory McIlroy has taken an unequivocal stance in the debate over LIV Golf players and Ryder Cup participation. While Team Europe has long emphasized that money plays no role in golf’s most prestigious team competition, McIlroy now sees this as a critical test. His message to Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton is clear: those who said they would pay to play in the Ryder Cup now have the chance to prove it.
“In my view: We have been very tough on American players being paid to play in the Ryder Cup, and we’ve said we would pay to participate as players ourselves. There are now two players who can prove that,” McIlroy said, putting responsibility and credibility front and center.
Pride Over Prize Money
Rahm and Hatton both compete in LIV Golf and must pay fines for participating in a rival tour. The PGA and DP World Tour regulations are clear: as long as these penalties stand, neither player is eligible to compete in the Ryder Cup.
Currently, the only realistic path to nomination is paying fines totaling approximately six million dollars, roughly one to one and a half million per year.
The situation’s urgency is heightened by fundamental differences between Europe and the USA. American team members are paid for their Ryder Cup participation. Team Europe has always taken the position that the sporting and emotional value of the competition outweighs any financial reward. European players have previously emphasized that they would pay themselves to participate.
Luke Donald encapsulated this ethos in his 2025 Ryder Cup introduction speech: “It’s not about prize money or world ranking points. It’s about pride.” Representing one’s flag, leaving a legacy, inspiring new generations while honoring the past. Driven by something money cannot buy: purpose, brotherhood, and responsibility.
Financial Matter with Symbolic Impact
Financially, Rahm and Hatton are capable of paying this price. Rahm reportedly earned around 76 million dollars over two years from LIV, plus an estimated signing bonus exceeding 200 million dollars. Hatton has earned about 22 million dollars with bonuses around 60 million dollars.
The six million dollars in fines would far exceed what American players received at the last Ryder Cup. Paying these fines would thus be more than a formality. It would send a strong signal and represent a significant financial commitment to Team Europe.