Rahm wants Ryder Cup spot but won't pay fines

Jon Rahm says he has no intention of paying his outstanding DP World Tour fines as the row over his Ryder Cup eligibility rumbles on.

The Spaniard was a pivotal figure in Rome last year as Europe regained the trophy.

But Rahm's involvement in next year's contest against the United States in New York remains in doubt because of his move to LIV Golf.

He was fined for playing Saudi-funded LIV tournaments which conflicted with DP World Tour events, without requesting permission from the European-based tour.

The 29-year-old needs to play in three more tournaments before the season ends in November to retain his membership of the DP World Tour and be eligible to play at Bethpage in 2025.

Rahm has entered the Spanish Open, Dunhill Links Championship and Andalucia Masters, but a DP World Tour spokesman told BBC Sport that until the fines are paid "he is ineligible to play".

Speaking on Wednesday at LIV Chicago, Rahm said: "I'm not a big fan of the fines. I don't intend to pay the fines and we keep trying to have a discussion with them (the DP World Tour) about how we can make this happen.

"I intend to play in Spain. Whether they let me play or not is a different thing."

European players must play four DP World Tour events a year to retain their membership. Rahm's participation in the Paris Olympic Games counted as one.

England's Tyrrell Hatton, who teamed up with Rahm to win both their foursomes matches at last year's Ryder Cup, was in a similar position after also joining LIV.

But Rahm's Legion XIII team-mate was allowed to play in last month's British Masters after appealing against his fines.

Players who initially joined LIV in 2022 appealed against their suspensions and fines and were able to compete until April 2023 when an arbitration panel found in favour of the DP World Tour and ratified its right to enforce its regulations.

And former European captain Padraig Harrington insists those rules should be adhered to.

"I'm a stickler for the rules," said the 2021 captain, who is at this week's Irish Open.

"I'm friends with Jon but if the rules are written down, that's just the way it is. The Ryder Cup is bigger than just the match. It is the backbone of the European Tour.

"The European Tour doesn't have a lot of leverage to get players to come back across and play here. The Ryder Cup is the carrot that we use to get people to come back.

"It is a very tough situation for Luke Donald and The Ryder Cup but if the 12th guy who qualifies by sticking to the rules gets bumped out, he's not going to be happy if somebody else has not stuck to the rules. We can't forget that person."

Speaking in the immediate aftermath of Rahm's seismic move to LIV last December, Rory McIlroy said the European tour "is going to have to rewrite the rules for Ryder Cup eligibility" because "we'd certainly miss and need Jon at Bethpage".

Europe were thrashed 19-9 at Whistling Straits on their last visit to the US in 2021, and although a 16½-11½ victory in Rome avenged that defeat - with Rahm and Hatton going unbeaten in their four matches - 2025's Ryder Cup in New York promises to be another tough assignment.

However, Donald told BBC Sport last month "there's not going to be a situation where we're singling out one person to change the rule".

He added: "It's quite clear with the policy that you either pay the fines or you can appeal them, and within that appeal time you can still play some DP World Tour events, so Jon absolutely knows what is required."