Justin Rose hopes Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm's LIV Golf issues can be resolved for them to participate in the 2025 Ryder Cup. The European pair - who both play on the Saudi-backed tour - are in danger of missing out on the competition next year as they're currently contesting fines that have been imposed on them by the DP World Tour.
They've been slapped with penalties due to participating in LIV Golf tournaments without proper authorisation and despite LIV attempting to pay the fines, the DP World Tour has since rejected their proposal. While Rahm and Hatton - who remain members of the DP World Tour - can continue competing until a final decision next year with their Ryder Cup spots still in sight, Rose admitted just how much Team Europe would miss their presence.
Discussing the possibility of the duo missing out on the same tournament they won last year in Rome, Rose insisted just how important the Ryder Cup is to his former team-mates. "Well, there's a possibility, yeah," the Englishman admitted.
"But there's quite a simple pathway for them to be on the team. So I don't think -- it's going to come down to their own personal decisions, I think, but I think if they choose to cooperate or go with the structure that's in place, they'll absolutely be on the team. That's the way I see it, really, to be honest with you. Yeah."
Rose, who is set to compete in his seventh Ryder Cup tournament next year - wasn't able to provide insight into the mental state of Hatton and Rahm but revealed there is a reality where the golf stars may choose not to play in order to continue playing LIV events.
"Yeah, I can't speak for them," he added. Obviously, if they choose to not do whatever it takes to make the team, they've obviously got some very strong opinions on the structures that are in place, and I know how important the Ryder Cup would be to both Tyrrell and Jon, so I would be surprised if they didn't figure it out.
"But like I said, I don't know quite where their heads are. But of course there is a scenario, absolutely, where conceivably they might choose not to be on the team.
"That would be to Europe's detriment for sure. Great players. And obviously bonded, as well. They were great together in Rome. They're a pairing. Those types of connections are powerful. They're quite difficult to recreate. Obviously we hope that we find natural pairings in the next year or that turn up in Bethpage and emerge.
"But if you have working partnerships, that's also a really, really important and powerful part of the team. We hope that they can be there for sure." Team Europe are the current Ryder Cup champions, having won by a score of 16.5 to 11.5 with England's Tommy Fleetwood achieving the highest win percentage of any player from both teams with 62.5%.
