Rory McIlroy doesn’t hold back and tells Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton to put their money where their mouth is

Rory McIlroy has suggested that two of his European Ryder Cup teammates should “prove” their commitment to the team by paying off huge outstanding fines.

The dispute comes from the fractured nature of professional golf. Spaniard Jon Rahm and English Tyrrel Hatton have both courted controversy by taking part in LIV Golf events, while remaining a part of the DP World Tour.

As a consequence the European-based tour has hit them both with fines, now totaling millions of dollars per player. Both players lodged appeals that allowed them to compete in the 2025 Ryder Cup in the United States.

With their cases still unsettled, it’s not yet clear whether they would be eligible to compete for Team Europe at the next Ryder Cup in 2027. But amid that uncertainty, Rory McIlroy has a solution.

At a press conference for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic this week, McIlroy was asked whether he believes Rahm and Hatton should pay their fines to ensure that they are eligible for the Ryder Cup. He was unequivocal.

“Absolutely, yeah,” McIlroy replied. “We went really hard on the Americans about being paid to play the Ryder Cup and we also said that we would pay to play in Ryder Cups. There are two guys that can prove it.”

“What the DP World Tour is doing is upholding its rules and regulations. We, as members, sign a document at the start of every year, which has you agree to these rules and regulations,” he continued.

“The people that made the option to go to LIV knew what they were. So I don’t see what’s wrong with that.”

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