30 January 2024 , 19:54
521
0
Tyrrell Hatton has been praised heavily by Jon Rahm ahead of his LIV Golf debut, despite both men being at risk of missing out on the next Ryder Cup.
After Rahm reversed his original decision to remain loyal to the PGA Tour and left for LIV at the end of last year, he admitted it was a major 'risk' due to European players on the Saudi-backed tour not being eligible to compete in the Ryder Cup. Hatton has now joined LIV from the PGA Tour also, sealing his switch just days before the season opener on February 2.
Hatton has joined Rahm's Legion XIII roster, the first expansion team since LIV's inception back in 2022. The Masters Champion is delighted to welcome the English golfer to his team, and showed how much he cares about the Ryder Cup despite potentially ruling himself out of contention.
READ MORE: Tyrrell Hatton made feelings on Jon Rahm clear before big-money LIV Golf reunion
READ MORE: Viktor Hovland confirms LIV Golf decision with blunt two-word response
"Tyrrell is a fierce competitor, proven champion, and of course my Ryder Cup teammate," Rahm said when welcoming Hatton to his team. Rahm is one of the best golfers in the world and a crucial member of Team Europe, but under the current rules he wouldn't be able to play when the competition returns to the USA in 2025.
Rahm is determined to continue playing for Europe, but is aware the decision is now out of his hands. "My position for the Ryder Cup remains the same," Rahm said. "I’ve explained many times how meaningful it is to me and I hope I can be in future editions.
"It’s a big risk to take. That’s not up to me right now but, if it was up to me, I’ll be eligible to play so I surely hope I can keep up the good golf and give them reasons to have me on the team."
McIlroy has already said that Rahm is vital for Team Europe's future chances (Getty)Rahm knew the risk he was taking when accepting a record offer from LIV believed to be worth £450million, although the Spaniard insisted that he doesn't play golf for money. The stature of Rahm's ability was confirmed when Rory McIlroy - who has been anti-LIV since the start - said that the Ryder Cup needed to change the eligibility rules to accommodate the Masters Champion.
"Jon is going to be in Bethpage in 2025. So, because of this decision the European Tour is going to have to rewrite the rules for Ryder Cup eligibility, absolutely, there is no question about that," McIlroy said to Sky Sports. "I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team."
If Rahm is in then Hatton will join him, which will be a major relief to both golfers now representing Legion XIII. Also on the new expansion roster is Caleb Surratt and Kieran Vincent, and they will tee off on February 2 in Mexico.
Bubba Watson shares details of horror knee injury ahead of LIV Golf debut