The Ryder Cup stands for honor and legacy. Rory McIlroy now challenges Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton to prove money doesn’t matter.
Rory McIlroy has taken an unequivocal 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 competition, McIlroy now sees this as a crucial 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.
McIlroy’s Clear Message 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 said we would pay to be able to participate as players. There are now two players who can prove this,\” said McIlroy, highlighting responsibility and credibility early on.
Pride Over Prize Money
Rahm and Hatton both play for LIV Golf and must pay fines for participating in a competing tour. The rules of the PGA and DP World Tour are clear: as long as these sanctions stand, both players are ineligible for Ryder Cup participation. The only realistic way to be nominated currently is to pay fines totaling around six million dollars, approximately one to one and a half million per year.
The situation’s tension is amplified by the fundamental difference between Europe and the USA. The American team pays players for their Ryder Cup participation. Team Europe has always stood for the sporting and emotional value of the competition outweighing any financial compensation. European players have also clearly stated in the past that they would pay to participate themselves. Luke Donald summed up this ethos in his Ryder Cup 2025 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 before. Players are driven by something money cannot buy: purpose, brotherhood, and responsibility.
The Financial Question with Symbolic Power
Financially, Rahm and Hatton are well able to pay this price. Rahm reportedly earned around 76 million dollars from LIV in two years, in addition to an estimated transfer bonus of over 200 million dollars. Hatton has earned about 22 million dollars, plus a bonus of around 60 million dollars.
The six million dollars of fines would be multiple times what the American players received at the last Ryder Cup. Therefore, paying the fines would be more than a formality; it would be a strong signal and a significant financial commitment in favor of Team Europe.
From Broadway to Bethpage Black, New York was built on the backs of Europeans 🇪🇺#TeamEurope |