After joining the LIV Golf breakaway league, Rahm and Hatton are currently ineligible to compete in the Ryder Cup; however, a former captain has supported a rule change.
Along with Rory McIlroy, Ryder Cup legend Bernard Gallacher is requesting a rule change that will let LIV Golf players—including Jon Rahm—to represent Europe in the 2025 Bethpage tournament.
Stars from Europe like Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are currently disqualified from the Ryder Cup because they played in the contentious LIV Golf series. Players must be active on the DP World Tour in order to qualify for Team Europe, but Rahm and Hatton were suspended for jumping to a new tour prior to the 2024 season.
Gallacher, who led Team Europe to victory at Oak Hill in 1995, has supported calls for Luke Donald, the captain of Team Europe, to have access to elite players like Rahm and Hatton for the match in New York the following year. He maintains that in order to defend the championship they won in Rome last October, Europe must field its best team. Gallacher insisted, “You have to go out there with your best team.” “Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood were the main question last time, but they were in their late forties. It’s not like 29-year-old US Open and Masters champion Jon Rahm. It says it all when Rory states that he wouldn’t want to face the Americans without Jon Rahm.
“Tyrrell Hatton is a major winner ready to happen,” he said to Bunkered. Remove Scottie Scheffler from the situation; he is on par with the local players. You should take him too because I’ve always thought he’s a guy who could win a major. Playing against the best team is not an option. Undoubtedly, the Ryder Cup would be significantly less without Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.”
Gallacher’s feelings are similar to McIlroy’s following Rahm’s departure from the PGA Tour for a contract reportedly worth up to £400 million. Speaking to Sky Sports, the Northern Irishman stated that, considering the importance of the Spaniard to Europe’s chances, he thought Rahm, the twice major champion, would remain in Donald’s 12-man squad even after moving to LIV.
After the Spaniard switched to LIV, McIlroy told Sky Sports News, “Jon is going to be in Bethpage in 2025 so, because of this decision, the tour are going to have to rewrite the rules for Ryder Cup eligibility, absolutely.” That’s not up for debate. Jon Rahm should be on the next Ryder Cup team, in my opinion. I will miss playing against him every single week. He’s a terrific Ryder Cup teammate because he’s so talented and persistent.”
Paul McGinley, a former captain of Europe and member of the Ryder Cup advisory board, stated last month that it is unlikely that regulations will change to permit League of Legends players to compete in the competition the following year.
“[LIV players] are not going to be eligible under the current systems,” McGinley told the Belfast Telegraph. Therefore, if they are to be played, the rules must be modified. However, there are numerous obstacles to overcome before they can reach the qualifying point.” Maintaining the Ryder Cup at this elite level, with the best players participating, requires striking a balance with treating players fairly on both sides. Thus, the position is one of negotiation.”
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