Former LIV pro calls Jon Rahm’s gap back on DP World Tour

Last week, LIV Golf star Jon Rahm appealed the sanctions imposed against him by the DP World Tour to join the inaugural league, allowing him to enter DP World Tour events temporarily and keep his membership for 2025 – and his access the following year European Ryder Cup Team. A former LIV pro is not happy with Rahm’s “blankness” about the significant fines being levied against him.

Austrian pro Bernd Wiesberger was one of LIV’s early defectors in 2022. But in 2024, Wiesberger joined the DP world tour. To do this, he had to pay huge fines and accept a long suspension.

This pathway back into the European professional circuit, and the golf establishment in general, is open to any LIV professional, provided they have not surrendered their DP World Tour membership.

But some players — including Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton — have refused to pay their fines, and by appealing the sanctions, as Rahm did this week and Hatton did earlier this summer — they are able, at least temporarily, to enter the events of DP World Tour and regain eligibility for the Ryder Cup without suffering any consequences.

In one interview with bunkeredWeisberger explained in detail how these stars’ ability to take the easy way out rubs him the wrong way.

“I don’t really like the look of it.” Wiesberger said bunkered“…This ‘walking around the corner’ now, I don’t really like it, but I like that we have the best possible players playing our tournaments. It’s a bit of a conundrum in that sense for me.”

One detail that particularly concerns Wiesberger is that despite following all the rules and sanctions set forth by the DP World Tour to regain membership, he still does not have full privileges, such as the ability to play in the Barracuda Championship, which was co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour, with Wiesberger likely still serving a separate suspension to play in LIV in 2023.

“I have done all my fines and sanctions and I have not been able to play tournaments in this tournament as a full member,” explained Wiesberger. bunkered. “I was going to play in the Barracuda Championship and this tournament couldn’t field me because it was a co-sanctioned event (with the PGA Tour), which left a pretty sour taste in my mouth.”

Although Weisberger did not mention it directly, Ryder Cup eligibility could add to his frustration, Weisberger played on the European team at the 2021 Ryder Cup, becoming the first Austrian golfer to appear on the team.

But Weisberger likely won’t be at the top of European captain Luke Donald’s list of captain’s choices for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

Rahm, on the other hand, will almost certainly be selected for the European team if he is eligible.

Kevin Cunningham

Editor of Golf.com

As managing producer for GOLF.com, Cunningham edits, writes and publishes stories on GOLF.com and manages the brand’s e-newsletters, which reach more than 1.4 million subscribers each month. A two-time former intern, he also helps make GOLF.com sound outside of the stories and service content provided by our reporters and writers, and works with the technology team on developing new products and innovative ways to deliver engaging engagement. site for our audience.