Rory McIlroy has made it clear that LIV Golf players who want to remain part of Europe’s Ryder Cup setup should settle their outstanding fines with the DP World Tour. Speaking ahead of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, McIlroy said Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton should pay what they owe if they want to stay eligible for future Ryder Cups.

Both Rahm and Hatton are reported to owe more than $1 million each in penalties for playing LIV events without permission. While they have been allowed to continue competing as their appeals remain unresolved, McIlroy believes the situation needs to be addressed.

“Look, this is my opinion,” McIlroy said. “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.”

His comments refer to the long-running debate over Ryder Cup compensation. U.S. players received a $500,000 stipend at the last Ryder Cup, with $300,000 going to charity while European players were unpaid.

The DP World Tour has been locked in a legal battle with LIV Golf players since 2023. A UK arbitration panel ruled that the tour was within its rights to fine and suspend players who broke its conflicting-event rules. Those fines were initially covered by LIV Golf but that arrangement ended earlier this year.

If Rahm and Hatton lose their case they may have to clear their fines or risk losing their DP World Tour cards altogether. That would also rule them out of the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.

 McIlroy said he has no issue with the tour standing by its rules.

“I think any organization or any members’ organisation like this has a right to uphold its rules and regulations….”

“We, as members, sign a document at the start of every year, which has you agree to these rules and regulations, and the people that made the option to go to LIV knew what they were. So I don’t see what’s wrong with that.”

Hatton, who has played in the last four Ryder Cups has said he wants to remain eligible for Team Europe in the future. Rahm, meanwhile, has not commented publicly on McIlroy’s remarks.

Rory McIlroy questions LIV Golf’s impact despite big spending

Rory McIlroy also shared his view on LIV Golf’s recent moves, saying he does not believe the league has added anyone who truly changes the landscape of the sport.

Speaking to The Telegraph, he suggested that even major financial commitments would not fix what he sees as LIV’s bigger issues.

“It’s not as if they made any huge signings this year, is it?” McIlroy said. “They haven’t signed anyone who moves the needle, and I don’t think they will. I mean, they could re-sign Bryson for hundreds of millions of dollars, but even if they do, it doesn’t change their product, does it? They’ll just be paying for the exact same thing.”

McIlroy also said he was pleased to see Brooks Koepka returning to the PGA Tour under its new Returning Member Program. Koepka will make a $5 million charitable donation as part of the deal and will not receive equity shares for the next five years.

Under the same program major winners Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith are also eligible to return, though none of them have announced any plans to do so.

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