LIV Golfers in the Ryder Cup, What You Need to Know?

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Author: Jack Guing,

LIV Golf has been in existence since 2022 with the first LIV Golf event taking place in June 2022 at Centurion Golf Club. The 2025 Ryder Cup is awaited in Bethpage Black in New York from September 25th to September 28th.

The inclusion of LIV golfers in the Ryder Cup remains a contentious issue, highlighting the growing divide in professional golf. Brooks Koepka took part in the 2023 Ryder Cup for Team USA as a captains pick, mainly due to the fact that he won the 2023 PGA Championship.

Team Europe chose not to pick any LIV Golf players in their Ryder Cup team. They however, opted for players who were members of the DP World Tour which led to LIV players resigning their membership to the DP World Tour in order to join the breakaway tour.

Team Europe's stance has now changed, mainly down to the fact that one of their main Ryder Cup players Jon Rahm is now a member of LIV Golf. So, how do LIV players qualify?

Let’s delve into the tricky world of golf and Ryder Cup qualification.

Pathways to Qualification

Liv golfers in the ryder cup

Majors Performance

LIV golfers who play well in major championships can stay relevant in the World Golf Rankings and Ryder Cup discussions as a result. Players like Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson, who have put in strong major performances recently remain in contention for selection.

Reinstatement of Tour Memberships

Should LIV golf players regain eligibility on the DP World Tour or PGA Tour through legal means or policy changes, they could resume earning points towards Ryder Cup qualification.

Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton still hold a DP World Tour membership, so they can qualify but they will be limited in the events they can play because of clashes with LIV events. Sergio Garcia has also rejoined the DP World Tour having paid £1m in fines following his resignation from the tour.

He will still remain on LIV so he will also be limited on the impact he can have in the standings and may rely on a captain’s pick.

Captain’s Picks Based on Reputation and Form

Ultimately, a captain’s willingness to select LIV golfers comes down to their form, experience, and ability to strengthen the team. While controversial, such picks could bolster a team’s chances if the players are in top shape.

Does the Ryder Cup need LIV players?

The last Ryder Cup in 2023 featured just one LIV Golf player, Brooks Koepka who featured for Team USA. Koepka accumulated 1.5 points at the Ryder Cup with his only win in 3 matches coming in the Sunday singles versus Ludvig Aberg.

Since the last Ryder Cup two members of Team Europe’s team have joined LIV Golf, Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. Rahm accumulated 3 points at the 2023 Ryder Cup, remaining unbeaten, winning twice and drawing twice. Hatton also remained unbeaten in his four matches, accumulating 3.5 points with 3 wins and a draw.

These two players would be a huge loss for Team Europe if they were to not qualify or were not picked by captain Luke Donald. It is likely both men will find their way onto Team Europe, highlighting that the Ryder Cup does need LIV Golf players to ensure the best of Europe takes on the best of the USA.

"Team USA were defeated in 2023 and could opt to choose more LIV players this time out than just Koepka, with U.S Open champion Bryson DeChambeau a likely member of Team USA come September. "

This year’s Ryder Cup promises to be exciting, and being months away, there are many twists and turns in the rankings that could take place, especially when we get into the major season. If LIV golfers do end up competing at the 2025 Ryder Cup in Bethpage Black, then this could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back that finally unites the world of golf once again, which is what the fans want.

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About us

Jack hails from County Offaly in Ireland and joins the team as a Content Writer and Performance Analyst. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and History from Maynooth University and a master’s degree in Sports Performance from the University of Limerick. Jack is a keen sports fan with a love for performance analysis and wishes to use this data-driven style that is seen in performance analysis in his writing to deliver informative predictions.

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