<p>Captain Jon Rahm of Legion XIII hits his shot from the 18th tee during the second round of the LIV Golf Adelaide at Grange Golf Club on Friday, February 13, 2026 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf)</p>
LIV Golf’s Jon Rahm has accused the DP World Tour of “extorting players” and insisted he has no intention of paying his fines or signing a contract that would allow him to play both tours.
The two-time Major-winning Spaniard refused to agree to the conditions, accepted by eight current DP World Tour members last month, which allow them to play DP World Tour events this season.
Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig, Elvis Smylie and Rahm’s Ryder Cup team mate Tyrrell Hatton agreed to withdraw all pending appeals and pay all outstanding fines issued for playing conflicting LIV tournaments without a release.
In exchange, they must play additional stipulated DP World Tour tournaments and take part in associated media activity and promotion.
Rahm has refused to agree to the terms, revealing ahead of LIV Hong Kong that he had offered to play four rather than six of the events that the DP World Tour asked him to play, which are believed to include the Amgen Irish Open at Doonbeg.
“Now, I did tell them, funny enough, lower that to four events, like the minimum says, and I'll sign tonight,” Rahm said. “They haven't agreed to that.
"I just refuse to play six events. I don't want to, and that's not what the rules say.”
He insists that he shouldn’t have to seek releases to play events he never played in the past and had no intention of playing now, adding that by playing the four-event minimum, he was adhering to the DP World Tour regulations.
“Well, my position hasn't changed in a week,” Rahm said. “I don't like what they're doing currently with the contract they're having us sign. I don't like the conditions.
“They're asking me to play a minimum of six events, and they dictate where two of those have to be, amongst other things that I don't agree with.”
Rahm has appealed against DP World Tour fines estimated at around $3 million and both he and Hatton were only able to compete in the 2025 Ryder Cup while that appeal was pending.
“I just don't like the situation,” Rahm said. “I think we should be able to freely play where we want and have the choice to play where we want and not be dictated what we do.
"Especially myself. I can't speak for others; only myself.
“I've always committed to play the minimum requirement, and I think I've played four events, including the Spanish Open, every year except one as a pro, and I commit to do that.
"That's not going to change. I still fully intend to do that.”
The problem is that to retain membership, players must play at least 4 events and seek releases to play events on rival tours that clash with DP World Tour tournaments.
As a result, Rahm risks becoming ineligible to qualify for the 2027 Ryder Cup.
He had no intention of playing on the DP World Tour until the LIV Golf season ends on August 30.
But while September’s Amgen Irish Open was an event he was keen play for the first time since winning his second title at Lahinch in 2019, that is now in doubt.
“We have the Omega Masters, I believe, Irish Open, Wentworth, French, Dunhill, Spain,” Rahm said of the events that were on the agenda.
“Out of those events, I would love to play my four in there, given I'm going to the Spanish Open, three of those I am going to play, and I fully intend to play three of those. I would love to.
“I don't know what game they're trying to play right now, but it just seems like in a way they're using us to -- they're using our impact in tournaments and fining us and trying to benefit both ways from what we have to offer.
“And it's just in a way they're extorting players like myself and young players that have nothing to do with the politics of the game.
"So I don't like the situation and I'm not going to agree to that.”
Rory McIlroy suggested that after Europe criticised the Americans for being paid to play the Ryder Cup and said they’d pay to play, it was time for the likes of Rahm and Hatton to pay up and abide by the DP World Tour regulations they knew were in place when they signed for LIV.
"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,” McIlroy said at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
“There are two guys that can prove it.”
McIlroy added: ”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.
"The people that made the option to go to LIV knew what they were. So I don't see what's wrong with that.”
Rahm did not agree with McIlroy, adding: “I think I responded to that a few weeks ago and I said that statement would make a lot more sense if all 12 of us were being asked to pay, not only just the two of us
“There's more intricacy that goes into this whole situation, right. While I understand why he's saying that, we all do it for the love of the game, it's a different situation than what we usually see.
“I'll gladly pay my way to go on the Ryder Cup, not have to pay to still be a member of the DP World Tour and fulfil a commitment that I'm fully willing to commit.”
Article Link: Rahm refuses to sign DP World Tour deal: "They're extorting players like myself and young players" - News - Irish Golf Desk