Europe Changes Process to Qualify for Ryder Cup; Could Help LIV Golfers

The automatic qualifying for six of the 12 European team members of the Ryder Cup has changed for the 2025 edition; the changes could make it easier for those in LIV Golf to make the team.

In the past, three would qualify based on the Official World Golf Ranking, while three others would make it based on points earned on the DP World Tour.

📊 New, single points list
6️⃣ Automatic qualifiers
6️⃣ Captain’s Picks

Qualification process for the 2025 European Ryder Cup team confirmed.

— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) August 6, 2024

Now, European team captain Luke Donald confirmed that the new system is similar to the U.S. team’s system and will take the top six from the team. Here are some details:

• Qualifying events start Aug. 29 with the British Masters and runs through next August.
• Winning majors (5,000 points) and PGA Tour Signature Events (3,000) hold the most weight.
• DP World Tour Rolex Series events are worth 2,000 points. Others on the tour are worth either 1,500 or 1,000 points.
• LIV Golf events earn no points.
• A qualifying member of the team must participate in at least four regular DP World Tour events to remain eligible.

Unlike the PGA Tour, which has banned LIV Golf members from participating in its events, the DP World Tour has fined players who have missed their events in order to play on the LIV circuit. That means if players like Jon Rahm or Tyrrell Hatton were to pay the fines, they would be able to take part in four events in order to remain eligible, and with the new system weighted heavily on majors, it opens the door for European LIV players to automatically qualify for the Ryder Cup than their U.S. counterparts. Interestingly enough, it was confirmed that last week’s Olympic tournament counted as one.

Jon Rahm’s Olympic appearance helped him move a step closer to making the 2025 Ryder Cup.

Event in Paris counted as one of the four DPWT starts he needs to keep membership. Three more expected, and plans to go to Spanish Open in Oct.

For @MirrorSport https://t.co/O94mVstkz9

— Josh Lees (@joshwlees) August 6, 2024

Shortly after Rahm joined LIV Golf, Rory McIlroy had stated that the eligibility rules should change in order to allow the Spaniard to continue to play in the event.

It appears that this change could go a long way toward making that happen.

Cover Image via Ryder Cup