Australia’s rising star Elvis Smylie is among a group of eight players who’ve been given special dispensation by the European tour to play in conflicting LIV Golf tournaments while retaining their membership.
But Spaniard Jon Rahm’s participation in next year’s Ryder Cup in Ireland could be in doubt after he was not included in that group.
Rahm, a two-time major champion and former world No.1, was absent from the list of golfers who’ve now got the chance to play on both tours.
He had previously refused to pay hefty fines for breaching European tour regulations by featuring in LIV events without permission. The fines are reportedly in the region of Stg 2.5 million ($A4.8 million).
European LIV Golf players are ineligible for Ryder Cup selection if they lose their European tour membership.
But the members who have been granted conditional releases by the European tour include Smylie, the 23-year-old Australian who won on his LIV Golf debut in Saudi Arabia earlier in February.
The others are Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez and David Puig.
They will face no disciplinary action provided they meet strict conditions, including paying outstanding fines in full and withdrawing all pending appeals.
They must also participate in stipulated European tour tournaments and media activities.
“Provided each member satisfies the conditions of their individual releases, no disciplinary action under the regulations will be taken against them for playing in conflicting tournaments on LIV Golf in 2026 and they will retain their membership status,” the a statement from the European tour said.
“The releases apply for the 2026 season only and they are not precedent-setting.”
Rahm was one of Team Europe’s key players at the Ryder Cup last year when they beat the United States 15-13 at Bethpage Black to retain the trophy.
Last month, Rahm, Bryson DeChambeauand Australian Cam Smith turned their backs on a chance to return to the PGA Tour, choosing to stay loyal to the Saudi-backed circuit despite qualifying for the ‘Returning Member Program’.
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