The root of the snag dates back to 2023, when the DP World Tour won the sports arbitration regarding the issue of players playing on LIV Golf.
The European Tour leadership, unlike the PGA, opted for fines as the primary sanction for players who had signed with the Saudi League, combined with fixed-term suspensions (an accessory sanction).
Given the time elapsed pending the ruling, the amounts of these fines started in the millions, initially paid by LIV Golf itself; however, this benefit was almost immediately withdrawn, leaving players faced with increasing fines themselves.
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This situation has been handled differently from player to player.
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Some have resigned permanently (for example, Westwood, Bland, and Stenson), deciding to embark on the path of no return.
A case in point is that of Sergio Garcia. After resigning, driven by his inner fire for the Ryder Cup, he decided to reconsider, paying the fines to regain eligibility for Team Europe.
His journey also included participating in the four tournaments required to maintain his Tour player status, but it was interrupted when the Spaniard, disappointed by Luke Donald's failure to call, withdrew from the Amgen Irish Open.
Garcia played at the Open de Espaa (won by Marco Penge), his home tournament, but he will not participate in any other DP World Tour events, thus precluding his chance to retain his card for 2026.
But despite all this, I'm convinced El Nio still believes in it...
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Finally, I come to the duo of Ryder Cup heroes.
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton have decided to appeal their fines, benefiting from their suspension pending the ruling. As for the suspensions, the DP World Tour itself found a "shortcut" to discount them through an ad hoc calculation.
All this has inevitably given rise to rumors of preferential treatment for them in the Ryder Cup: but now that the Cup has returned home, the issue is back on the table without any additional details, and someone will have to address it.
Because this can no longer be postponed; the image of the DP is at stake.
