McIlroy Urges Rahm and Hatton to “Pay to Play” as Ryder Cup Eligibility Hangs in Balance

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RORY McIlroy has publicly challenged fellow Europeans Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton to settle their outstanding fines with the DP World Tour if they genuinely want to secure spots on future Ryder Cup teams.

Speaking ahead of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, McIlroy said both players—who joined the LIV Golf circuit and subsequently faced multi-million-pound fines and sanctions for playing in conflicting events—should “put their money where their mouth is” and pay up rather than prolonging the dispute through ongoing appeals. 

McIlroy referenced the strong stance Team Europe took at last year’s Ryder Cup by declaring they would “pay to play” rather than be paid, contrasting it with the official stance of some American players. He suggested that Rahm and Hatton now have the opportunity to demonstrate that commitment in practice. 

The two LIV stars, who helped Europe secure a memorable victory at Bethpage Black in 2025, have argued against paying the fines and continue to pursue legal appeals. Should those appeals fail, unresolved fines could jeopardise their DP World Tour membership—critical for Ryder Cup eligibility under current rules—and therefore their chances of being selected for Europe’s 2027 team at Adare Manor.

Hatton, present at the Dubai event, said there was no update on the appeal process and reaffirmed his pride in his DP World Tour membership. 

McIlroy also downplayed any immediate hope for reconciliation between LIV Golf and the traditional tours, suggesting the differences remain too deep despite occasional signs of rapprochement. 

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