Former World No. 1 Martin Kaymer has left his comments regarding the DP World Tour sanctions and LIV golf rules as Hatton and Rahm play in Ryder Cup 2025
15:19 ET, 26 Nov 2025Updated 15:23 ET, 26 Nov 2025
Rahm has been at the center of controversy over DP World Tour sanctions and LIV Golf(Image: Getty Images)
LIV Golf star Martin Kaymer has expressed his frustrations toward the DP World Tour regarding their recent application of rules and regulations.
In 2023, the DP World Tour forced Kaymer to resign his membership with fines and other suspensions that made the position unattainable after he defected to LIV.
Kaymer was effectively shut out by the DP World Tour, while others… not so much. Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm joined the PIF-backed league for the 2024 campaign, but opted not to quit the DP World Tour so they could play in the Ryder Cup, instead challenging their fines. Hatton and Rahm have been able to compete while waiting for appeals to their situation to go through, appearing for Team Europe at Bethpage Black.
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Speaking to
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, Kaymer had a few things to say regarding the loopholes in the rules.
“The thing is, at the beginning, I think we got the most heat, for leaving certain tours and coming here. And the guys who joined earlier, I think, they had the best or the biggest benefits from everything.
“Which, there’s no judging or right or wrong. Time developed, and therefore certain things played in their hands. Sometimes you do feel like, and this is not towards Tyrrell or Jon, but sometimes you feel like they have different rules for different people. I just find it very strange and I would like to understand it.
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton play in the 2025 Ryder Cup
“How can there be, like, a lawsuit going on, and then you play the Ryder Cup? It’s very strange for me as a non-lawyer. But again, I’m happy for them because I see the point of view from the athlete. It’s great to compete wherever you want to play and everybody’s welcoming you with open arms. So, that is obviously an amazing situation to be in.”
He then mentioned that amid the drama, he can’t say anything bad about the DP World Tour.
“I can’t say anything bad about the European Tour because they never said anything bad about me. They treated other players, if we talk about Henrik Stenson, he had the Ryder Cup captaincy. It’s okay to give that up.
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“But the way everything worked out for Henrik was, you know, he’s a friend of mine. It was painful to watch. It’s not very nice to treat people like that. But regarding myself, they have been always nice to me. I can’t say any bad word about them.
“I really hope that I can play on the European Tour in certain events next year or the coming future. But again, I have the utmost respect for them. I don’t know how they handle the whole thing going forward, where do they want to go? Where are they seeing the European Tour? That is obviously out of my hands, and unfortunately, I don’t know about it. I hope they figure it out.”
