Guy Kinnings, CEO of the European Tour Group, has admitted that a crucial appeals process by Ryder Cup duo Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton may not be completed before the tournament resumes next September. Kinnings appeared to be hoping that a deal to unite elite golf could be formally agreed before then, which would theoretically negate Rahm and Hatton's allegations against his organization.
Rahm and Hatton have been heavily fined for playing on the LIV Tour without the approval of the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour). The two have appealed the fine to remain eligible for the Ryder Cup. In the meantime, they can play in Europe.
For Luke Donald, Europe's Ryder Cup captain, the backdrop is troubling. If Rahm and Hatton lose their cases (a high probability, given precedent), they could be excluded from Ryder Cup contention. An obvious solution would be to delay the formal process of the challenge until after the Americans host Europe at Bethpage.
“The lawyers involved will decide when to complete the legal process,” Kinnings said. “There is no set formula, so we can only wait and see how long it takes to get to the appeals process. In the meantime, the most important thing we are doing is continuing to have discussions about the future that may or may not have an impact on that process.”
“I ask them or any other member to follow the rules of the Tour. If you follow the rules of the Tour, you are absolutely welcome to play. I am very happy to see Tyrrell at the Belfry. [for the British Masters]It's great to have Jon at the Spanish Open. It will make the tournament even more exciting.
“I'm hopeful that this can be resolved through an appeal, or if it progresses into a conversation around the future of the tournament, who knows how things will adjust. As long as it's resolved in a way that doesn't get in the way of what we want to do, which is to play the best tournament we can, schedule the best schedule we can, and make the Ryder Cup as great as it can be. From my perspective, I'm glad people are willing to work with the rules as they are right now.”
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Earlier this month, Gennings met with representatives from the PGA Tour, Strategic Sports Group and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in New York as the various bodies look to develop a plan to bring the fragmented sport back together. However, time is of the essence as golf's different bodies currently operate in silos. “Does this need to happen quickly? 100% yes, and I think everybody recognizes that,” Gennings added. “I think people want to see progress. They all want progress. We have an opportunity to bring the sport together again and go global, but we definitely need to move fast.”
Matthew Baldwin, who overcame a 70-minute weather delay to take the halfway lead at 13 under at the Wentworth PGA Championship, was a delivery driver for Amazon two years ago. “I remember pulling up in front of an apartment building, jumping out of the van, getting in the back seat, and all of a sudden I felt myself moving and I thought ‘Oh no, forgot to put the handbrake on,’ ” Baldwin said.
“So I ran behind the car and I ran around the taxi and I put the handbrake on and it wouldn't stop, so I put it on a few more times and it came to rest inches from a blue Fiesta. A lady I was delivering a parcel to saw the whole thing and she said, 'I didn't have my phone out in time to film it.'”
