Jon Rahm referred to the DP World Tour’s proposed solution to end disciplinary action as “extorting players like myself and young players that have nothing to do with the politics of the game.”

Speaking before LIV Golf’s event this week in Hong Kong, Rahm elaborated on why he was the most notable holdout from an announcement two weeks ago in which eight LIV golfers agreed to pay all outstanding fines for breaking the European-based tour’s regulations by playing on LIV without a release. The eight players also agreed to drop their appeals against the tour and to play in a specific number of additional events.

This was most important because the DP World Tour governs the European Ryder Cup team, and if Rahm continues to hold out and loses his appeal, he will no longer be eligible to play in the 2027 Ryder Cup.

“I don’t like what they’re doing currently with the contract they’re having us sign,” Rahm said Tuesday. “I don’t like the conditions.”

Rahm, a two-time major winner and one of the best players in the world, said his primary issue was the minimum number of DP World Tour events the agreement required, saying it asked them to play six events, with two assigned by the tour.

Rahm claimed that throughout his career, he played the minimum and participated in roughly four DP World Tour events per season.

“I did tell them, funny enough, lower that to four events, like the minimum says, and I’ll sign tonight,” Rahm continued. “They haven’t agreed to that. I just refuse to play six events. I don’t want to, and that’s not what the rules say.”

Rahm spent most of his career as a dual member of the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. He argues that he never needed a release to play on either of those tours, so he questioned why there was disciplinary action and fines for playing on LIV.

“I just don’t like the situation. I think we should be able to freely play where we want and have the choice to play where we want and not dictate what we do,” he said. “Especially myself. I can’t speak for others. Only myself.”

One of those eight players who signed the agreement was Tyrrell Hatton, a fellow Ryder Cup star who is also Rahm’s teammate on his Legion XIII team on LIV. The others included future Ryder Cup hopefuls Tom McKibbin, David Puig, Thomas Detry, Laurie Canter, Adrian Meronk and Victor Perez. Australian Elvis Smylie, one of LIV’s newest additions and winner of its first event this year, was also on the list.

On Hatton, Rahm said, “I respect Tyrrell’s decision. That’s all I have to say. He’s free to make his own choice, and I fully respect it.”

LIV Golf initially paid the fines for its players, with Rahm claiming his total is up to $3 million. However, LIV walked back that policy, leaving its players to settle the issue directly with the DP World Tour.

Some aging Ryder Cup greats like Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood have given up or resigned their membership on the tour they have been a part of since the beginning of their professional careers. Rahm and Hatton filed an appeal to the DP World Tour over the issue in late 2024, which has not been ruled on. That kept them eligible for 2025’s Ryder Cup, but if the ruling goes against Rahm, he’s in danger of missing out in 2027 at Adare Manor in Ireland.

The relationship between money and the Ryder Cup has only added intrigue to Rahm’s situation. His idol and countryman, Seve Ballesteros, famously missed the 1981 Ryder Cup over a financial dispute about appearances. It’s unclear if Rahm would consider doing the same.

“We went really hard on the Americans about being paid to play the Ryder Cup,” Rory McIlroy said in January. “We also said that we would pay to play in Ryder Cups. There’s two guys that can prove it.”

Rahm, responding to McIlroy, said:

“That statement would make a lot more sense if all 12 of us were being asked to pay, not only just the two of us (he and Hatton). There’s more intricacy that goes into this situation, right?  While I understand why he’s saying that, we all do it for the love of the game, it’s a different situation than what we usually see.

“I’ll gladly pay my way to go on the Ryder Cup, not have to pay to still be a member of the DP World Tour and fulfill a commitment that I’m fully willing to commit.”