Jon Rahm not among players granted release by DP World Tour

Eight DP World Tour members who jumped to LIV now have the freedom to play both tours.

On Saturday, the DP World Tour announced that Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig and Elvis Smylie were granted conditional releases to compete on LIV without accumulating further sanctions.

But one notable name was omitted from the list of players: two-time major winner Jon Rahm.

Rahm, who is playing his third season on LIV this year, has reportedly accumulated millions in fines from the DP World Tour for competing in LIV Golf events without a release. In 2024, Rahm said he has no intention to pay the fines and initiated a formal appeal with the DP World Tour, which enabled him to continue to play in DP World Tour events while the appeal was in process. Rahm needed a minimum of four starts outside of the majors to maintain his membership and to be eligible for the 2025 Ryder Cup. Rahm was selected as one of Luke Donald’s captain’s picks, with his 3-2-0 record making him a central character in Europe’s 15-13 victory over the United States at Bethpage Black.

In order to play DP World Tour events in addition to LIV’s 14-tournament schedule, the conditions agreed upon by the eight LIV golfers include payment in full of all outstanding fines for breaches of the DP World Tour’s regulations, participation in additional stipulated DP World Tour tournaments, as well as associated media activity and promotion, and withdrawal of all pending appeals.

“The conditions these members have accepted will provide additional value to the DP World Tour and benefit to the entire membership,” the DP World Tour said in a statement. “Provided each member satisfies the conditions of their individual releases, no disciplinary action under the Regulations will be taken against them for playing in conflicting tournaments on LIV Golf in 2026 and they will retain their membership status.”

The statement also clarified that the releases apply for the 2026 season only and are not precedent-setting.

“Requests for releases will continue to be considered on their individual merits in accordance with the Regulations that all members agree to abide by,” the statement said.

If Rahm loses his appeal, his DP World Tour membership could be revoked or suspended, jeopardizing his participation in the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Ireland.

An arbitration date for Rahm’s appeal has not yet been publicly released.