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 clear position in the debate surrounding LIV Golf players and their participation in the Ryder Cup. While Team Europe has long emphasized that money plays no role in the sport’s most prestigious team event, 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 compete in the Ryder Cup now have the chance 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 participate as players. There are two players now who can prove this,\” McIlroy stated, highlighting responsibility and credibility early on.
Pride instead of Prize Money
Rahm and Hatton both play for LIV Golf and consequently face fines for participating in a rival tour. The rules of the PGA and DP World Tour are clear: as long as these sanctions remain, both players are ineligible for the Ryder Cup.
Currently, the only realistic path to nomination is paying the fines totaling around six million dollars, approximately one to one and a half million per year.
The situation’s complexity is intensified by the fundamental difference between Europe and the USA. The American team compensates players for Ryder Cup participation, while Team Europe has always maintained that the event’s sporting and emotional value outweighs any financial reward. European players have historically emphasized that they would pay their own way to participate.
Luke Donald summed up this mindset in his 2025 Ryder Cup introduction speech: \”It’s not about prize money or ranking points, it’s about pride.\” Representing one’s flag, leaving a legacy, inspiring new generations, and honoring predecessors drive players. They are motivated by something money can’t buy: purpose, brotherhood, and accountability.
Financial Matter with Symbolic Impact
Financially, Rahm and Hatton are capable of paying this price. Rahm is reported to have earned around 76 million dollars in two years with LIV, plus an estimated signing bonus exceeding 200 million dollars