Jon Rahm criticizes the DP World Tour: ‘They are cheating the players’

Jon Rahm is in Hong Kong this week for the LIV Golf Hong Kong event, but, as has happened many times this year, the alternative tour was a hot topic of conversation during the pre-tournament press conference.

During an interview with reporters on Tuesday, Rahm explained in detail why he rejected the DP World Tour’s latest offer to settle his suspensions by playing in LIV Golf events, an offer that eight other LIV pros accepted.

In his remarks, Rahm hit back, criticizing the DP World Tour’s handling of the situation and accusing the tour of “cheating the players.”

Here’s what you need to know.

Jon Rahm declines DP World Tour offer, 8 others accept

To fully understand Rahm’s criticism of the DP World Tour, we must first go back two weeks ago to February 21. On that day, the DP World Tour announced that it had reached an agreement with eight LIV Golf players allowing them to continue playing LIV Golf events without receiving additional sanctions on the tour.

Previously, DP World Tour members were charged large penalties for playing in LIV Golf events that took place the same week as DP World Tour events.

As part of the deal, the players were forced to pay the remaining fine, commit to playing a number of DP World Tour events and agree to advertise those events in the media.

In a press release at the time, the DP World Tour said, “As long as each member satisfies the conditions of their exclusion, no disciplinary action under the Regulations will be taken against them for playing conflicting tournaments at LIV Golf in 2026 and they will retain their membership status.”

The players who agreed to the agreement Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig and Elvis Smylie.

However, Rahm rejected that offer. Among other things, that decision could have a major impact on his DP World Tour membership status, which could affect his participation in the 2027 Ryder Cup.

Rahm blasts DP World Tour: ‘I don’t know what game they’re trying to play’

With that as a backdrop, Rahm stepped onto the podium at LIV Golf Hong Kong on Tuesday. After asking a few quick questions about that week’s tournament, the reporter asked Rahm about his feelings on the DP World Tour contract situation, and the two-time major champion delved into the matter.

First, Rahm criticized certain demands regarding playing in DP World Tour events, saying they require him to play six tournaments, including two that they “will dictate.”

“I don’t like what they’re doing right now with the contract they signed. I don’t like the terms,” ​​Rahm said. “They ask me to play six events, and they say where two of those should be, among other things I don’t agree with.”

He went on to say that he has been a “dual member” of the PGA and DP World Tours his entire career and has never had to be released to play on either tour.

“If we go from that – I’ve been a dual member throughout my career, the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. Now that LIV Golf is accepted on a global level as part of the ecosystem, you can almost say a member with three tours, even though I’m suspended from the PGA Tour,” said Rahm. “But I’ve always been a dual member. I’ve never once been asked to be released to play any of those tours. We’ve never sent a release. Now why do we have to give this and there are all these penalties? I understand why they do it. What’s the problem?”

Rahm also expressed further frustration that he was initially asked to appeal his fine two years ago “so they could get this” and yet “they’re getting into a lot of trouble right now.”

Ultimately, he wants the freedom to play wherever he wants and whenever he wants.

“I don’t like this situation. I think we should be able to play freely where we want and choose to play where we want and not be told what to do. Especially me. I can’t speak for others; only me,” said Rahm.

Later in his lengthy response, Rahm specifically accused the DP World Tour of “swindling” LIV players out of contract requirements, while trying to profit from those same players’ appearances at DP World Tour events.

“I don’t know what game they’re trying to play right now, but it looks like the way they’re using it – they’re using our tournament contributions and they’re fining us and they’re trying to gain from both of these things that we’re going to give you, and that’s just how they’re cheating players like me and young players who have nothing to do with the politics of the game,” Rahm argued. “So I don’t like this situation and I won’t accept it.”

Among the demands of the DP World Tour, Rahm revealed one point that worries him the most. Previously, players had to play at least four DP World Tour tournaments a year to maintain their membership. But the DP World Tour requires LIV players to commit to six events to be granted an exemption.

Rahm said if they change that requirement back to four events, “he’ll sign tonight.”

“Now, I told them, funny enough, I’m down to four events, like the minimum amount, and I’m going to sign tonight,” Rahm said. “They never agreed to that.