The Ryder Cup stands for honor, identity, and legacy. Rory McIlroy now challenges Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton to prove that money is not the deciding factor.
McIlroy Sends a Clear Message to Rahm and Hatton
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 plays no role in the prestigious team competition, McIlroy now identifies this as a crucial test. His message to Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton is clear: Those who said they would pay to play now have the chance to prove it. \”This is my opinion: We’ve been very hard on the fact that American players are paid to play in the Ryder Cup, and we said we would pay to participate as players. There are two players who can now prove it,\” McIlroy said, highlighting responsibility and credibility early on.
Pride Over Prize Money
Both Rahm and Hatton play on LIV Golf and face fines for participating in a competing tour. PGA and DP World Tour rules clearly state that as long as these sanctions remain, they are not eligible 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’s sensitivity is heightened by the fundamental difference between Europe and the USA. American team players are paid for Ryder Cup participation, while Team Europe has always held that the competition’s sporting and emotional value outweighs any financial reward. European players have previously emphasized they would pay themselves to compete. Luke Donald summarized this ethos in his Ryder Cup 2025 opening speech: \”It’s not about prize money or world ranking points. It’s about pride.\” It is about representing one’s flag, leaving a legacy, and inspiring new generations while honoring those before. Players are driven by something money cannot buy: purpose, brotherhood, and accountability.
A Financial Question with Symbolic Weight
Rahm and Hatton are financially capable of paying this price. Rahm reportedly earned around 76 million dollars in two years at LIV, plus an estimated signing bonus of over 200 million dollars. Hatton earned about 22 million dollars plus a bonus of around 60 million dollars.
The six million dollars in fines would be many times what American players received at the last Ryder Cup. Therefore, paying these fines would be more than a formality. It would