Rex Hoggard suggests the disadvantage LIV players may face at this year’s Ryder Cup as point about Jon Rahm is made

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The Ryder Cup is not far away, with many PGA Tour and LIV Golf players set to come together for their respective teams.

LIV Golf congratulated Scottie Scheffler after he won The Open last week, representing his 17th win on the PGA Tour.

But LIV Golf and the PGA Tour remain at odds with one another, and their players will again go their separate ways after The Open, before another reunion at the Ryder Cup.

A total of 19 LIV Golf players took on The Open at Royal Portrush, but Scheffler ensured a clean sweep of PGA Tour winners at the majors.

He won the PGA Championship earlier this year, with Rory McIlroy taking The Masters title and J.J. Spaun triumphing at the US Open.

LIV Golf players told they could have a Ryder Cup disadvantage

Scheffler impressed most in the 2025 majors, but also performing strongly overall was LIV Golf ace Jon Rahm.

But as the Ryder Cup approaches, Rex Hoggard is concerned for Rahm and his fellow members of the Saudi-backed tour.

He said on the Golf Channel Podcast with Rex & Lav: “This will be the last time that he [Rahm] is in front of let’s call it the mainstream audience.

READ MORE: America claimed to have a potentially ‘significant advantage’ over Europe for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black

“The fact of the matter is that most players on that tour understand that week in, week out, they don’t get the eyeballs or attention.

“The numbers are pretty clear on what viewership is towards LIV events, so going into that final round there was a level of pressure that Jon Rahm doesn’t feel normally.

“I would equate it to this year, you make the argument that Jon Rahm or any of the LIV players now feel a level of pressure they did not feel before because they know the four majors are their chance to shine on the biggest stage.

“You can make the argument that is the case for every player but the difference is you have The Players Championship and Signature Events. Those still get attention that LIV events do not get.

“So I can see if you are a player like a Jon Rahm or a Bryson DeChambeau, going into the majors you know this is going to be my last chance.

“This year will be interesting because the Ryder Cup gives a second chance of performing on that stage, but I think it will be a detriment to many of the LIV players that they spend a lot of time thinking about it.

“Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson, going back to the PGA Championship at Bethpage essentially six years ago, were golf royalty and both of them have fallen off the map when it comes to the major championship.

“I think it’s a good example of what can happen to a world-class player. We have just had a discussion about Scottie Scheffler.

“I don’t see him doing that. But it is pretty precarious when you consider six years ago those two were the kings of the hill.”

Which LIV Golf players could play at the 2025 Ryder Cup?

Time is running out until the action gets underway at Bethpage Black, but only two players have qualified for the event at this stage of the season.

Sitting atop the European rankings, McIlroy has qualified for the Ryder Cup, with Scheffler in the same position for the US.

READ MORE: Luke Donald has been sent a real warning for the Ryder Cup after Scottie Scheffler completes big turnaround at The Open

They are closely followed in the respective standings by PGA Tour players, with Robert MacIntyre and Tommy Fleetwood among those within the top six for the Europeans.

The hosts meanwhile have Xander Schauffele and Spaun in the top six, both of whom can be confident of making the cut come August.

But also there is LIV Golf duo DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton, who occupy fifth and fourth places respectively for their sides.

Outside the top six but undoubtedly desperate to be involved meanwhile will be the likes of Spaniard Rahm and American Patrick Reed.

Rahm wants Sergio Garcia at the Ryder Cup too, with captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald certain to be working hard behind the scenes right now as they really look to put the pieces together.

The current divide between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf simply adds an extra layer of intrigue to the Ryder Cup, where strong team chemistry is a huge asset.