Rahm has previously indicated he has no intention of paying the backlog and for the Tour that is just as big a stumbling block. Tour executives are scratching their heads at Rahm’s latest move.
This picture is made more complicated by the appeal Rahm launched more than 18 months ago. That allowed him to play in last year’s Ryder Cup without paying the fines. But now he has dropped it, Rahm, under Tour rules, is required to clear his slate before he can tee it up in any Tour event. If he does not do so, he would lose his membership and thus remove his name from consideration for Luke Donald’s team, even as a wildcard.
Sources indicate that the Tour is determined not to bend regardless of Donald’s wish to have Rahm in his dozen in County Limerick. “What Jon doesn’t seem to grasp is that, yes, while all our regular members play four minimum, they’re not members of a Tour that is in direct competition with us,” the insider said. “Of course no one needs releases to play PGA Tour events but that’s because that’s a Tour that is our partner.”
“We withdrew sanctions from the eight other LIV players but we’re never just going to lie down and do that; there had to be ‘conditions’ attached to us doing that for them – ie. extra events and pay the fines. Which they all agreed to. Does he seriously think the rules don’t apply to him?”
The saga has caused friction in the famously tight European team room. Rory McIlroy, for one, has expressed his bemusement at Rahm’s continued stubbornness, while Justin Rose has also urged the former world No 1 to pay his fines.
Rahm continues to perform with distinction inside the ropes, although he was beaten to the £3m first prize in Steyn City on Sunday by Bryson DeChambeau.
The pair finished locked on 26-under after shooting respective final rounds of 63 and 65. DeChambeau prevailed on the first sudden death hole courtesy of a birdie for his second consecutive LIV win.