World No.2 Rory McIlroy Takes Swipe at Jon Rahm After LIV Golfer Rejects “Generous” Deal by DP World Tour

Rory McIlroy had some strong words for Jon Rahm after the Spaniard called out the DP World Tour earlier this week regarding the conditional releases.

World No.2 Rory McIlroy Takes Swipe at Jon Rahm After LIV Golfer Rejects “Generous” Deal by DP World Tour

Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy (Image via Imago)

Earlier this week, Jon Rahm had some tough words for the DP World Tour after rejecting their “conditional releases” deal. On Wednesday, Rory McIlroy took a swipe at him for turning down this “generous” deal offered by the European Tour.

Previously, DP World Tour members who played on LIV Golf, would be fined for playing in LIV events that conflicted with events on the European circuit. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) backed tour later stopped paying these fines.

This led the DP World Tour to come up with a solution. Under the conditional releases granted by them, the players can now compete in LIV Golf events that clash with the DP World Tour events without facing any penalties and suspension.

A total of 8 players would accept this deal. The one golfer who turned this down was Jon Rahm.

The Spaniard was not a major fan of these releases. Ahead of the LIV Golf Hong Kong event, he sounded off on the DP World Tour and claimed that they were “extorting” the players.

As per the agreement of the conditional releases, golfers will first have to clear all their outstanding fines. They will then be required to compete in a certain number of DP World Tour events. The third condition would see them take part in media activities while withdrawing their previous appeals.

For a European golfer to play in the Ryder Cup, they need to have a DP World Tour membership. To retain this membership, a golfer needs to participate in a minimum of 4 DP World Tour events, excluding the majors.

Rahm, who joined LIV Golf in December 2023, plays just 4 events and keeps his membership. According to him, the tour is asking him to play a minimum of 6 events now.

A couple of days after his attack on the tour, Rory McIlroy took a swipe at him. Ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the 5-time major champion claimed that the deal offered to Rahm was more “generous” than the deal offered to Brooks Koepka to return to the PGA Tour.

In my opinion, it’s a really generous deal. Like it’s a much softer deal than what Brooks took to come back and play on the PGA Tour. Look, the European Tour can only do so much to accommodate these guys. … I just don’t see what more the European Tour can do to accommodate these guys to retain their membership.

Rory McIlroy said regarding Jon Rahm’s comments

Rahm is currently scheduled to take part in 14 LIV Golf events and the 4 major championships. To retain his DP World Tour membership and be part of the Ryder Cup team again, he will need to play in at least 4 events on the European circuit.

As he did not accept the conditional releases, the 31-year-old golfer will remain subject to fines from the Tour due to conflicting LIV events.

Rory McIlroy had previously urged Jon Rahm to pay his fines

Jon Rahm found his name trending following his explosive comments against the DP World Tour and its conditional releases, which could have helped him with his fines. Speaking of the fines, Rory McIlroy had previously urged Rahm to clear them.

Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy
Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy (Image via PGA Tour)

Ahead of the Dubai Desert Classic in January, McIlroy would comment on Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. The reigning Masters Champion would ask his Ryder Cup teammates to pay their fines and set an example about paying to play in the biennial event instead of getting paid.

We went really hard on the Americans about being paid to play the Ryder Cup, and we also said that we would pay to play in Ryder Cups. There’s two guys that can prove it.

Rory McIlroy said regarding Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton

Rahm did respond to these comments as well. The former World No.1 claimed it would make sense if all 12 of them had to pay some sum to play in the tournament and not just him and Hatton.

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.

Jon Rahm told the reporters regarding Rory McIlroy’s comments

As per previous reports, the two Legion XIII members had to pay $3 million each in fines. The two of them did tee up at the 2025 Ryder Cup alongside McIlroy and the others. They were paired twice by captain Luke Donald and won both times.

Their strong showing as a pair played a huge part in Europe’s victory. Despite the Americans dominating in the singles event, the Europeans held on and emerged as 15-13 winners and clinched their second straight victory.

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