Jon Rahm believes a potential resolution between the DP World Tour and individual LIV Golf players would be a step in the right direction, as uncertainty continues to surround fines issued to players competing without releases.
Rahm and fellow Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton are still appealing sanctions imposed by the DP World Tour after they played in LIV Golf events without permission from the European circuit. Despite the appeals process dragging on, neither player has paid the accumulated fines, even after Rory McIlroy effectively said that they had the opportunity to prove how much the Ryder Cup and DP World Tour membership meant to them by paying up.
Speculation about a breakthrough emerged following a report from Flushing It Golf on X, which cited multiple sources suggesting the DP World Tour could be preparing to drop fines for Rahm, Hatton, and other LIV-affiliated members. Those reportedly included players such as Adrian Meronk, Tom McKibbin, and David Puig.
“Multiple sources indicate that the DP World Tour will drop fines for members playing on the LIV Golf League for this season,” Flushing It Golf said on X.
“All existing fines up until the end of 2025 will need to be settled, but releases will be granted to all members who apply for competing LIV Golf League events in 2026.
“In addition, the DP World Tour has the right to nominate events players must commit to.”
The DP World Tour has not confirmed the report, instead telling Sports Illustrated that it remains in ongoing discussions, saying it continues having “dialogue with individual members involved to explore and discuss options.”
Both Rahm and Hatton are in Saudi Arabia this week for the opening event of the 2026 LIV Golf season in Riyadh. While speaking to media ahead of the tournament, Rahm acknowledged that talks are taking place on an individual basis and suggested the approach could benefit all parties.
“I personally would say I don’t know too much about the matter,” Rahm said.
“Obviously I think at first, managers are going to be taking care of that early on.
“I don’t know what the negotiations look like. Obviously they’re going to players individually to make different deals.
“I don’t know what it may be or what it’s going to look like but I’m happy to see that looking for a path forward for LIV players to be able to play on both tours and not to get penalised.
“I think the example of players like Tom [McKibbin] or David Puig, who’s now a winner on the European Tour, who just chose the best path possible as young players, shouldn’t be penalised because of the politics of the game.
“The fact that they’re looking at a positive way to figure it out, I think it’s only good for us, and I think it’s good for the DP World Tour, as well.”
Hatton offered a shorter response but echoed Rahm’s sentiment.
“Not much more to add than what he’s just said. It sounds positive, so if things are moving in the right direction, that’s good for golf,” Hatton said.
“Yeah, we’ll let other people figure that out, and we’ll just focus on playing golf this week.”
Rahm is making his first competitive appearance since the Spanish Open in October after more than three months away from tournament play. He begins the 2026 season ranked 97th in the Official World Golf Ranking, having slipped since joining LIV Golf, though reports continue to suggest the league may soon receive ranking points.
Despite the ranking drop, the two-time major champion has dominated LIV Golf’s season-long standings, winning the individual title in both of his campaigns and narrowly beating Joaquin Niemann on each occasion.
LIV Golf Riyadh begins under floodlights on Wednesday and will also mark the introduction of the league’s new 72-hole tournament format.