Golf reporter makes Tyrrell Hatton Ryder Cup claim following DP World Tour return

Tyrrell Hatton may have returned to DP World Tour action last week in order to keep his Ryder Cup hopes alive, but Sports Illustrated writer Bob Harig is unconvinced the LIV Golf star will be able to automatically qualify for Luke Donald's side in 2025. 

Hatton, 32, was eligible to participate in the Ryder Cup's first qualification event at the British Masters last week as a result of having served his outstanding suspensions on the DP World Tour. 

A DP World Tour spokesperson confirmed to GolfMagic that Hatton "has a pending appeal against sanctions imposed on him for breaching the DP World Tour’s Conflicting Tournament Regulation and in accordance with the DP World Tour’s Regulations, he is eligible to participate [on the Tour]." 

Hatton's decision to return to the DP World Tour was a vital one to ensure he can continue playing on the European Ryder Cup team.

Only DP World Tour members can play on the European Ryder Cup team, and all members must play in four DP World Tour events annually outside of the four majors in order to retain their membership. 

Related: Jon Rahm yet to make crucial Ryder Cup decision

Hatton, who is ranked 32nd in the Official World Golf Rankings, has already played in two DP World Tour events this season (Dubai Desert Classic, British Masters) and he is already committed to the Open de Espana and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in order to maintain his membership. 

There is currently a grey cloud hanging over Hatton's LIV Golf and European Ryder Cup teammate Jon Rahm though as the former World No.1 has yet to commit to any DP World Tour events for the remainder of this season. 

That should all get cleared up soon. 

Captain Donald, who gets the reigns once more following Europe's monumental victory at Marco Simone in Rome last year, has decided to tweak the Ryder Cup qualification criteria this time around.

Instead of two separate lists for European and World Points, the former World No.1 has simplified things into one list where the top six players will earn automatic spots in his 2025 European Ryder Cup team. 

Donald will still get six captain's picks, which is the same scenario for United States captain Keegan Bradley.

"The Ryder Cup is certainly one of the reasons why I wanted to play this week," Hatton said on the eve of the British Masters at The Belfry. 

"The Ryder Cup is really important to me and I'd love to be on that team next year, and this is the perfect week to try and get off to a good start."

As it turned out, Hatton blew a golden chance to fire out the blocks after a rough weekend on the iconic Brabazon Course.

Despite surging into the lead with 36 holes to play, Hatton tumbled down the leaderboard with lacklustre rounds of 76 and 74. 

It all added up to a T18 and just 18.09 points in the early European Ryder Cup team standings. 

Denmark's Niklas Norgaard vaulted to top of the table with 250 points after landing his maiden DP World Tour title at the four-time Ryder Cup venue.

Once Hatton has finished off his remaining two LIV Golf events on the schedule this month, he will look to increase his Ryder Cup points tally on the DP World Tour at the Open de Espana and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. 

If Hatton can then crack the top 70 in the DP World Tour standings (he is currently ranked 82nd) ahead of the start of the DP World Tour Playoffs in two months' time, he will be eligible to compete in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links from 7-10 November.

Related: Rory McIlroy makes big DP World Tour statement to close out season

Should he then make the top 50 after that, he will be able to participate in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates from 14-17 November.

Those final two DP World Tour events - both Rolex Series events with 2,000 points up for grabs - will be key for Hatton accumulating vital Ryder Cup points before he heads back to LIV Golf in early 2025.

There are no Ryder Cup points available on LIV Golf. 

Related: LIV Golf early 2025 schedule

But even if Hatton does perform well to close out the DP World Tour season, and even perform admirably in the four majors in 2025, renowned golf writer Bob Harig is unconvinced the Englishman will make the top six in the European Ryder Cup team standings, and thus automatically qualify for Donald's side. 

Harig thinks with 3,000 points up for grabs in the PGA Tour's signature events in 2025 that Hatton will be left with too much to do to make the top six spots in the European Ryder Cup standings. 

'Hatton is/was never going to make the team on points,' tweeted Harig in response to a European Ryder Cup team standings graphic.

'His playing was about fulfilling membership requirements. The points levels at these events will be far superseded by Rolex, majors and PGA Tour signature events.

'Hatton is playing for a pick.'

Even if Hatton does miss out on an automatic spot, he will no doubt be confident of showing Donald enough to warrant a place in a fourth straight European Ryder Cup side at Bethpage Black in New York next September. 

Hatton, who is a member of Rahm's Legion XIII, has enjoyed a solid first season on LIV Golf with a debut victory in Nashville earlier this year. 

He has also chalked up six top-10 finishes and he currently assumes third spot in the season-long individual standings. 

The six-time DP World Tour winner finished a respectable T9 at The Masters but he then finished T63 at the US PGA, T26 at the US Open and missed the cut at The Open.