Justin Rose gives entirely predictable response to Jon Rahm Ryder Cup question
England's Justin Rose has weighed in after Ian Poulter declared he still wants to be a Ryder Cup captain despite joining LIV Golf.
Justin Rose says it seems like 'a pretty straightforward equation' LIV Golf's Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton should settle their DP World Tour fines so they can be eligible for the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Doubts have been cast in recent months if Rahm will represent Team Europe next September at Bethpage Black.
He needs to play a minimum of three DP World Tour events by the end of the year to retain his membership.
A difficult third pregnancy for his wife Kelley and contractual commitments with LIV have meant Rahm wasn't sure if he could squeeze in those events.
Rahm told reporters before he won $22m last week in Chicago that he did, in fact, intend to play the tournaments required over the coming months.
But he dropped a bombshell when he declared that he had no intention of paying the fines.
He kept alive his Ryder Cup hopes by appealing the sanctions, thought to be in the region of $1m, at the last minute.
Hatton, too, has also appealed his fines.
GolfMagic understands those appeals won't be heard until 2025 at the earliest.
It would not be in the least bit surprising if both appeals are rejected, given a sports arbitration panel ruled in favour of the European Tour Group on this matter in April 2023.
Rose has been an interested observer of recent events, given he was both LIV players' teammate at the 2023 Cup in Italy.
As far as the Englishman is concerned, it's the cost of doing business.
"There's quite a simple pathway for them to be on the team," Rose told reporters before the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
"It's going to come down to their own personal decisions, I think, but I think if they choose to cooperate or go with the structure that's in place, they'll absolutely be on the team.
"That's the way I see it, really, to be honest with you."
Can Rose conceive of a team without Rahm and Hatton?
"I can't speak for them," Rose said.
He added: "Obviously if they choose to not do whatever it takes to make the team, they've obviously got some very strong opinions on the structures that are in place.
"And I know how important the Ryder Cup would be to both Tyrrell and Jon, so I would be surprised if they didn't figure it out.
"But like I said, I don't know quite where their heads are. But of course there is a scenario, absolutely, where conceivably they might choose not to be on the team."
He added: "That would be to Europe's detriment for sure. [They are] great players. And obviously bonded, as well. They were great together in Rome. They're a pairing.
"Those types of connections are powerful. They're quite difficult to recreate. Obviously we hope that we find natural pairings in the next year or that turn up in Bethpage and emerge.
"But if you have working partnerships, that's also a really, really important and powerful part of the team.
"We hope that they can be there for sure."
