LIV stars’ Ryder Cup hopes at serious risk after DP World Tour decision

The DP World Tour has made the decision to block players who sign up for the next season of LIV Golf from competing on the tour – and it will directly impact their Ryder Cup hopes.

The European Tour has made it clear that it expects players to “make a choice” of the banner they want to compete under.

Currently, players must be members of the DP World Tour to compete for Team Europe at the Ryder Cup.

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LIV players’ Ryder Cup hopes at risk

Effectively, choosing to play in the 2027 LIV campaign will block a player’s ability to take part in the Ryder Cup.

"Players need to make a choice," Guy Kinnings, CEO of the DP World Tour, told BBC Sport.

"We have rules and regulations which are there to protect our tour and which our members must all abide by.

"Players who are not willing to comply with our rules and regulations should not be seeking to join our tour."

Previously, players – such as Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton – were able to reach an agreement over a conditional release allowing them to compete on LIV and the DP World Tour. This is set to change in 2027, with players forced to choose one or the other.

LIV players potentially impacted by the change include Joaquin Niemann and Thomas Pieters, who would need to strike agreements or go through qualifying school to compete on the DP World Tour.

If players do not disclose their intention to play LIV but later do, then they may have their DP World Tour memberships revoked.

LIV Golf filed for bankruptcy protection last month after the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund withdrew funding.

It has since emerged that LIV has potentially secured $300million-worth of investment from BC Partners Credit.

Jon Rahm expected to leave LIV

This comes just days after Jon Rahm confirmed he would leave LIV over “unacceptable” proposed terms for the 2027 season.

Speaking at a bankruptcy court hearing, his lawyer, Jon Beck, said the Spaniard "independently reviewed the terms of LIV 2.0 and determined those terms are unacceptable as to him" before going on to say that LIV and Rahm’s team were “in advanced discussions for a consensual separation agreement".

Rahm, who is supposedly considering a return to the traditional tours despite winning the last three LIV titles, is reportedly owed up to £113million for the rest of his contract, having signed a £222million agreement in December 2023.

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