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EspañolJon Rahm is not softening his stance on the DP World Tour penalties levied against him and other LIV Golf players. In fact, he marked an even deeper line in the sand between he and the tour Rahm must be a member of if he's going to continue playing in the Ryder Cup.
Speaking ahead of LIV Golf Hong Kong this week, Rahm unloaded on a nearly 3-minute rant about why he didn't come to terms with the DP World Tour like eight other LIV Golf players, including Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton.
Hatton, Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig and Elvis Smylie agreed to a conditional release that allows them to remain members of the DP World Tour while competing on LIV as long as they pay any outstanding fines, withdraw any pending appeals they had against the Tour and participate in more stipulated Tour events and promotions.
Rahm, as he has stated for months, was not a part of that group because he doesn't agree with the terms and continued to remain bullish he will not budge in this war of attrition between he and the DP World Tour.
Jon Rahm does not hold back when asked about his ongoing fued with the DP World Tour after it came to an agreement with eight LIV players last week.
— Cameron Jourdan (@Cam_Jourdan) March 3, 2026
"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… pic.twitter.com/QFb3Vi102C
"My position hasn't changed in a week. I don't like what they're doing currently with the contract they're having us sign," Rahm said. "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. If we just go based on that -- I've been a dual member my whole career, PGA Tour and DP World Tour. Now with LIV Golf being accepted in the world rankings as part of the ecosystem, you could almost say a three-tour member, even though I'm suspended from the PGA Tour.
"But I've always been a dual member. Never once have I been asked for a release to play either one of those tours. We've never submitted a release. So why is it now that we need to be offering this and there's all these penalties? I understand why they're doing it. What's the problem?"
Later in his answer, Rahm explained he would sign the agreement immediately if the DP World Tour lowered the required events from six to four, a number he has continually played on the tour almost every year of his professional career. He said the tour won't agree with that number.
A hearing date has still not been set for Rahm's appeals of DP World Tour fines for playing in conflicting events. Rahm has continued to refuse to pay his fines, which are believed to be in excess of $2 million. LIV Golf paid those fines for other players through the conclusion of the 2025 season.
"I just don't like the situation," Rahm continued. "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.
"Now, with the LIV and the major schedule I don't think I'm going to be able to do so until our playoffs or our last events are done. But given on the back nine, right, we have the Omega Masters, I believe, Irish Open, Wentworth, French, Dunhill, Spain. 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."
If Rahm were to lose his appeal, he would be required to pay outstanding fines to the DP World Tour if he wanted to be eligible to play those events and be eligible for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.
"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," Rahm said. "So I don't like the situation and I'm not going to agree to that.
"I just refuse to play six events. I don't want to, and that's not what the rules say."
In January, Rory McIlroy made a plea to Rahm and Hatton to just pay the fines. “We went really hard on the Americans about being paid to play the Ryder Cup," McIlroy said. "We also said that we would pay to play in Ryder Cups. There's two guys that can prove it.”
Rahm said he would gladly play to compete in the biennial bout.
"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," Rahm said. "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 fulfill a commitment that I'm fully willing to commit."
Rahm's comments are the latest in a saga that seems to have no end in sight. The conflict is now entering its third year, and Rahm isn't budging.
"Given also the fact that two years ago I was asked to appeal the fines so they could figure this out and sort it out and I did," Rahm said, "and we're running into more problems right now."
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jon Rahm accuses DP World Tour of extortion, breaks down his decision