Jon Rahm appeals DP World Tour fines in fight to make Ryder Cup

Spanish golfer Jon Rahm appealed against outstanding fines to the DP World Tour on Thursday which had thrown his hopes of competing at next year’s Ryder Cup into jeopardy.

Spanish golfer Jon Rahm appealed against outstanding fines to the DP World Tour on Thursday which had thrown his hopes of competing at next year’s Ryder Cup into jeopardy. The two-time major winner originally insisted Wednesday that he had no intention of paying the penalty fees incurred due to his participation in LIV Golf events, escalating the possibility of Team Europe heading into next year’s Ryder Cup without one of its biggest stars. Rahm played a pivotal role in routing the United States in Rome last October, but to be eligible to return to captain Luke Donald’s team for New York, the 29-year-old needs to be a member of the DP World Tour, formerly known as the European Tour. To retain his membership, he must play in three further events on the circuit before its season concludes with the Tour Championship in Dubai on November 17. Yet Rahm faced being unable to tee up at any DP World Tour tournament until he resolved or appealed fines issued to him by the circuit for not being released from competing at events on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf schedule that clashed with its own calendar. Rahm had until midday BST (7 a.m. EST) to contest the sanctions in time to play the Spanish Open in Madrid on September 26 and lodged his appeal just hours before the deadline.