Aside from the hurdle of the majors, another concern likely weighing on the minds of LIV golfers is the 2025 Ryder Cup. Keegan Bradley is set as the U.S. team captain. A native of the area, Bradley brings local knowledge and a fresh perspective. In a groundbreaking move, the PGA of America will pay U.S. Ryder Cup players for the first time – $200,000 straight to each player, plus $300,000 earmarked for a charity of their choice. That’s $500,000 per player, mixing compensation with purpose.
The event is set to kick off in September at Bethpage Black in New York, and the chances of LIV Golfers like Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm on the European team remain uncertain. Playing all the editions of the tournament since 2018, Hatton is determined not to miss out this time. To do so, the golfer is emphasizing the majors and has something to say about it.
The Englishman shot a 70, 2-under par is sitting at T5 after the second round. Following the round, the LIV Golfer was asked about the Ryder Cup and how important the majors are for him right now if he wants to qualify for the Ryder Cup this year. To that, he responded, “Yeah, the majors this year are the only opportunities that I have to earn points.” He played his first Ryder Cup in 2018 under captain Thomas Bjørn and has had a total of three appearances (others being in 2021 and 2023). The two-time Ryder Cup winner had no difficulties earlier as he automatically qualified for the event. However, after his move to LIV Golf, things changed as the Saudi-backed league doesn’t provide any points.
The LIV Golfer talked about it, saying, “One thing that I’m proud of for the last three Ryder Cups that I’ve been a part of is that I’ve qualified automatically, and I’ve made it a bit harder for myself now.” In January, too, the golfer admitted that the transition to LIV Golf was a tough decision. He said, “Yeah, and again, as I’ve said previously, making that decision to move over to LIV was really difficult and one that I didn’t take lightly. It was a week off after being here, and I honestly hated that week, to be honest.”
However, instead of focusing on the past, Tyrrell Hatton is motivated to play at the biennial event. Looking forward to it, the golfer sent a strong message to the European captain, Luke Donald, and added, “I would love to qualify without needing a pick. Yeah, hopefully, I can play really well in the majors this year. I’d love to be on that team again in Bethpage.”
For an automatic qualification in the European Ryder Cup, the golfer should be in the top-6 European Team Rankings. Major tournaments provide 5,000 points to grab. As for the PGA Tour regular events, there are 2,000 points. Considering that, even if he can’t play on the PGA Tour, the golfer can give his best at the majors to confirm a spot. However, if things don’t go the way Hatton wants, can he still qualify for the Ryder Cup? He sure can!
What other options does Tyrrell Hatton have for the Ryder Cup?
Just like the PGA Tour regular events, the DP World Tour also provides 2000 points to the golfers. This seems to be the only other option for Hatton, and he is taking advantage of it. Hatton and Jon Rahm have appealed the fines imposed by the DP World Tour following their move to LIV, allowing them to continue competing in events on the Europe-based tour. Back in January this year, he played at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and won the tournament.
Thanks to that, the golfer moved to the second position of the European Ryder Cup Rankings and currently has 922.84 points. However, sitting well above him is Rory McIlroy, with more than double the points at 2,028.75. If Tyrrell Hatton slips up in the majors, he risks dropping down the rankings and may eventually have to depend on a captain’s pick—something he’s keen to avoid for now.
Do you think the Englishman can play at the Ryder Cup for the fourth time? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
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