Jon Rahm's Ryder Cup future uncertain as he refuses to pay DP World Tour fines | Ryder Cup

Luke Donald will have to do without Jon Rahm, one of Europe's most important Ryder Cup players, in Bethpage next September unless the Spaniard and the DP World Tour reach a last-minute agreement on Thursday to pay outstanding fines.

Rahm, who joined LIV Golf last December, will need to play in three more DP World Tour events this year to retain his membership, which is essential to playing in the Ryder Cup. To meet this criterion, Rahm wants to play in two tournaments in his home country – the first is the Spanish Open on September 26, then the Andalucía Masters – as well as the Dunhill Links Championship.

In order for Rahm to be allowed to play in the first of these tournaments, he must pay fines – which amount to a sum of almost seven figures – by Thursday afternoon. The sanctions were imposed by the DP World Tour on members like Rahm who did not receive permission (called technical clearances) to play in LIV tournaments.

At LIV's appearance in Chicago on Wednesday, the two-time major winner made it clear he doesn't want to pay the money. “We signed up a long time ago,” Rahm said. “Whether they let me play or not is another matter. I'm not a big fan of the fines. I think I've been outspoken about it.”

“I have no intention of paying the fines and we continue to try to talk to them about how we can make that happen,” he added. “I have said many times that I am not going to the Spanish Open for the glory or anything else. I think it is my duty to Spanish golf to be there and I also want to play in Sotogrande.”

In fact, Spanish golfers will be deeply disappointed if Rahm cannot compete in these tournaments. “We have registered for these events and I want to play,” said Rahm. “That is my intention, to play.”

For Donald, the situation with Rahm is an unwelcome annoyance as he tries to defend the Ryder Cup on American soil. Rahm was one of the stars when the U.S. lost in Rome last year.

The DP World Tour privately insists that the fines are entirely consistent with its approach to golfers who have joined LIV. Tyrrell Hatton did indeed use a loophole – and this is still open to Rahm – to appeal his fines in order to play in the recent British Masters. However, Rahm appears to be more adamant than the Englishman in his belief that the fines were wrongly imposed. With any appeal there is a risk that the sanctions will simply be reimposed later. Rahm's determination is underlined by the fact that LIV's Saudi backers would pay the fines on his behalf, a scenario he has so far firmly rejected.