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Jon Rahm says it “wouldn’t be good for anybody” if a hearing into his sanctions for playing on LIV Golf takes place before the Ryder Cup.

Rahm and his LIV teammate Tyrrell Hatton kept their hopes of playing in September’s showdown at Bethpage Black alive when electing to appeal the fines the DP World Tour placed on them for playing in conflicting events on the Saudi-backed league.

And until that appeal is resolved, the duo dubbed ‘Team Angry’ in the 2023 victory in Rome will remain available for selection for Luke Donald.

But Rahm has already stated he has no intention to pay the fines, leaving Wentworth HQ in an awkward spot ahead of a hearing date that has not yet been set.

• TGL chief weighs in on potential LIV moves

• Padraig Harrington questions Tom McKibbin’s LIV move

If Rahm and Hatton lose the future hearing – as is anticipated given sanctions against LIV players were already upheld by a sports arbitration panel – their Ryder Cup future would be in jeopardy again.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future but I can tell you my plan is to be on that team at Bethpage,” Rahm said, speaking ahead of his debut at this week’s Dubai Desert Classic.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, and I’m hoping they don’t try to settle the appeal before the Ryder Cup. I don’t think that would be good for anybody. But my plan is to be at Bethpage.”

Rahm, meanwhile, has backed his Spanish compatriot Sergio Garcia to revive his Ryder Cup career.

• DP World Tour favourite makes return after troubled period

• Major champion defends signing relegated LIV player

Garcia has renewed his DP World Tour playing rights in a bid to make it to Bethpage, but would likely need to rely on a wildcard pick from captain Donald.

“For people that see him any given day, Sergio Garcia can a can hit it tee-to-green better than anybody on the planet,” Rahm said. “He’s still that good and he’s still very valuable.

“I understand the change in circumstances. I get it. But at the end of the day, being Spanish and a friend and a mentor, I’m obviously going to be biased towards him. And I would love to see him in that team room but who knows what’s going to happen.

“I also understand we did an incredible job in that last Ryder Cup having a newer team and coming together and performing the way we did. So I hope, I believe that there’s a place for Sergio in there.

“I think there will be a place for Sergio on the Ryder Cup any given time. It’s just a matter of time now is letting the clubs do the talking.”


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Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.

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