Speaking in the immediate aftermath of Rahm’s seismic move to LIV last December, Rory McIlroy said the European tour “is going to have to rewrite the rules for Ryder Cup eligibility” because “we’d certainly miss and need Jon at Bethpage”.
Europe were thrashed 19-9 at Whistling Straits on their last visit to the US in 2021, and although a 16½-11½ victory in Rome avenged that defeat – with Rahm and Hatton going unbeaten from their four matches – 2025’s Ryder Cup in New York promises to be another tough assignment.
However, Donald told BBC Sport on Tuesday that “there’s not going to be a situation where we’re singling out one person to change the rule”.
He added: “It’s quite clear with the policy that you either pay the fines or you can appeal them, and within that appeal time you can still play some DP World Tour events, so Jon absolutely knows what is required.
“He wants to play a few events and be eligible. I hope he does either pay the fines, or appeals and becomes eligible for my team because I would dearly love to have him be a part of that.”
Rahm has two LIV events left to play this year, in Chicago from 13-15 September and Dallas a week later.
When announcing his move to LIV in December, Rahm spoke about wanting to keep his DP World Tour membership and how “important the Spanish Open is” to him.
He has won the event a record three times and this year’s is being held from 26-29 September in Madrid, with the Andalucia Masters also taking place in his home country in October.
