GOLF: Jon Rahm not among eight golfers granted conditional LIV release

The DP World Tour announced Saturday that it will allow eight of its members to participate in conflicting LIV Golf events in 2026 after reaching a compromise.

Former world number one and 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm was not among those granted release.

Rahm’s teammates Tyrell Hatton, Adrian Meronk, Tom McKibbin, Laurie Canter, David Puig, Thomas Detry, Victor Perez, and Elvis Smylie received conditional releases that allow them to remain members of the DP World Tour while competing in LIV Golf events.

Conditions for the release include paying outstanding fines, withdrawing pending Tour appeals, and increasing participation in DP World Tour events.

“The conditions these members have accepted will provide additional value to the DP World Tour and benefit the entire membership,” the Tour said in a statement Saturday. “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 DP World Tour began fining members for participating in overlapping events in 2022. In 2023, the Tour won an arbitration case that allowed it to enforce the penalties.

Rahm has publicly stated that he will not pay the accumulated fines and has appealed the sanctions. This multi-year dispute currently leaves his 2027 Ryder Cup eligibility in jeopardy.

“The releases apply for the 2026 season only and are not precedent-setting,” the Tour added. “Requests for releases will continue to be considered on their individual merits in accordance with the Regulations that all members agree to abide by.”

—Field Level Media/Reuters