With a Ryder Cup in 2025 over in the USA, there are plenty of eyes on who makes the cut for both Team USA and Team Europe.
The well-documented split in the PGA and LIV Tours means that some players across both teams face uncertainty.
For Team Europe, the likes of Tyrrell Hatton, Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia are some of the biggest names to move to LIV and in turn, see their world ranking place drop.
LIV events are not recognised by the OWGR and subsequently, it means a lot European players on the LIV Tour have seen their ranking tumble.
- READ MORE: Shane Lowry thinks Luke Donald has made an ‘amazing’ decision ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup
Of course, it is Rahm who is of most concern for Team Europe. A former world number one, he has dropped to 14th and will continue to fall unless he does well in the majors or plays in enough DP World Tour events, including the upcoming Spanish Open.
And speaking about the issue with Rahm and the Ryder Cup, European stalwart Justin Rose has outlined just what Rahm might have to do.
Justin Rose makes the case for Jon Rahm being Europe’s Ryder Cup team in 2025
Speaking about the Spaniard for The Telegraph, Rose made a case for Rahm being involved based purely on ability.
However, he did conceded that the pathway is there for the Spaniard, and that the tours have their interests to protect.
“No matter where the world rankings say Jon is, or, you know, the golf and the players he’s competing against, or how he competes, we know what a great player he is,” Rose said.
“My point is, you want him on the team. He was such a massive part of our win in Rome [in 2023]. You want your front-runners to go out there and do the job, and he did that.
“But from my point of view, there’s a pathway to play the Ryder Cup if he wants it, and I think that’s all the DP World Tour can do. They have their interests to protect, and I still think that it’s a doable situation should the player want to do it enough.
“So, that’s my view on it. There’s a pathway. And, you know, everyone makes their choices, and I respect everybody’s choice. [But] no one’s saying you can’t play.”
Luke Donald will really want Jon Rahm involved
There have been suggestions that Donald will push for a rules change in terms of Ryder Cup qualification and with top players like Rahm and Hatton potentially not available, it would be no surprise.
For 2025, Rahm and Hatton can make life a lot easier by fulfilling certain requirements.
But beyond 2025, there is more of a problem, especially if things continue to go unresolved between the tours.
Sooner or later, the OWGR will need to somehow recognise the LIV events in some capacity. As it stands, there are too many good players in LIV to ignore.
And with more likely to make the jump in the future, a compromise needs to be reached.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
