Luke Donald has refused to say whether he wants the DP World Tour to postpone the appeals of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton until after the tournament. Ryder Cup to avoid potential interference.
Hatton and Rahm were heavily fined by Wentworth headquarters for participating in LIV golf events while holding DP World Tour memberships.
The golfers are appealing the fine and hope to play in the Donald's Golf Tournament at Bethpage Black next September.
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Lahm lodged his appeal hours before kick-off at home in Madrid, after explaining that he had exactly zero plans to repay his debt.
The Spaniard also does not want LIV's financier, Saudi Arabia's PIF, to pay the £1 million he is owed, as a matter of principle.
Hatton also decided to go the same route as Ram.
golf magic It is understood both appeals are unlikely to be heard before the end of the year.
But there's also a distinct possibility that this issue won't be resolved until after the 2025 New York game.
Jon Rahm
Given the precedent set in April 2023 (when the DP World Tour won its arbitration case against LIV Golf), it seems a foregone conclusion that Hatton and Rahm's appeals will be dismissed.
So if they want to wear a European Ryder Cup jersey, they'll likely be told to pay.
If the appeal is not heard quickly, some skeptics may argue that compared with the likes of Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell and Sergio Garcia, Rahm and Hatton were treated differently.
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European Travel Group chief executive Guy Kinnings told reporters in Wentworth last month that the timetable was not within his control.
“The relevant lawyers will decide when the legal proceedings will be completed,” he said.
“There's no hard and fast formula for this, so we're just going to wait and see how long the appeals process takes.”
Apparently, Kinnings also hopes that the agreement between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the aforementioned PIF will eliminate this problem.
There's no doubt Donald wants to get Hatton and Rahm involved if Team Europe is to have any chance of an upset in New York.
But he distanced himself considerably from the topic when interviewed by BBC Sport.
“This has nothing to do with me,” he said.
“It’s out of my control and we’ll have to see how it plays out.
“This is something that DP World Tour is dealing with and they will handle it in the best possible way.”
Donald said he is in regular contact with Rahm and Hatton.
He said he was delighted to see Hatton win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and claimed there were other players who could make the final 12 in the Saudi-backed breakout.
“The DP World Tour has a very consistent policy,” he said.
“That's already clear. It's really the same situation as Roma.
“You have to be a member of the European Tour and be born in Europe.
“If you comply with the rules and regulations set by the DP World Tour, then you are eligible.
“There are a lot of LIV players playing on LIV who are now eligible; so I can pick and choose them at will.”
