Padraig Harrington has delivered an honest response on whether Jon Rahm should be allowed to play at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
Rahm believes he will make Luke Donald’s team despite playing on the Saudi-back LIV Golf tour.
The Spaniard was fined for playing breakaway league events, which conflicted with DP World Tour tournaments.
Rahm must play in three more tournaments to retain his DP World Tour status and give himself a chance to make Luke Donald’s team.
The two-time major winner has entered the Spanish Open, Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and Andalucia Masters. However, Rahm has not paid his outstanding fines and has no intention of doing so.
Padraig Harrington: Jon Rahm must stick to the DP World Tour rules
If Rahm fails to pay his fines and settle with the DP World Tour, his participation in the upcoming events could be in doubt.
Harrington, however, believes the 29-year-old must stick to the rules or risk missing out at Bethpage.
“If anybody knows me, I’m a stickler for the rules,” Harrington said ahead of the Irish Open.
“You know what the rules say, and you stick to them. I know Jon Rahm. Big fan of Jon. And if the rules are written down, you’ve got to go about and stick to them. That’s just the way it is. It’s very important for the Ryder Cup — the Ryder Cup is bigger than just the match.”
Harrington added: “I know people want to make out that it’s this one match every two years, but the Ryder Cup is The European Tour. It is the backbone of The European Tour. I would have been a strong advocate of stronger rules in the past of four events is not a lot.”
The Irishman accepts that Donald’s situation is complicated as the Englishman starts to plan for next year’s event.
Harrington continued. “It is a very tough situation for Luke Donald and The Ryder Cup in the sense that they really do want to have the best team, and there is a case for saying, you know, give ourselves the best chance of winning; that’s as important a factor as anything in be keeping the European Tour at the forefront of golf.
“I’m a guy for sticking to the rules, but it puts us in an awkward situation because, in 12 months, I will actually want Jon Rahm playing in the match.
“But the 12th guy who qualifies, sticking to the rules or gets bumped out, he’s not going to be happy if somebody else has not stuck to the rules. We can’t forget that person, either.”
Jon Rahm has no intention of paying DP World Tour fines
Rahm nailed his colours to the mast ahead of LIV Golf’s event in Chicago. “I’m not a big fan of the fines,” Rahm said. “I think I’ve been outspoken about that. I don’t intend to pay the fines, and we keep trying to have a discussion with them about how we can make this happen.”
Rahm’s Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton was allowed to feature at the British Masters due to a pending appeal surrounding his DP World Tour sanctions.
Justin Rose has urged Rahm to comply, and considering several LIV players have since returned to the DP World Tour, there will be hope that a resolution can be reached.
Europe has a brilliant chance to claim its first win on American soil in 12 years, and Rahm’s presence will give Donald a considerable boost.
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