Tyrrell Hatton is set to join Jon Rahm in the LIV Golf ranks.
The Telegraph has reported Hatton agreed a deal worth £50 million with only days left before LIV’s season begins in Mexico on February 2.
The report says the jeopardy surrounding his Ryder Cup future and major participation were the main sticking points in Hatton’s decision.
The 32-year-old is expected to join Rahm’s new team, which is yet to be officially named, having allegedly received an improved second offer from the Saudi-funded circuit.
Hatton confirmed conversations with LIV Golf during the Hero Dubai Desert Classic earlier this month, but he stated he was staying put “as of right now.”
Fast forward almost 10 days and LIV appears to have secured another established winner on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, as well as a player in the top 20 in the world rankings.
Since breaking through at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2016, Hatton has often divided opinion with his red-hot attitude on the course.
He won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in 2020 and in the same year, he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA Tour.
Tyrrell Hatton: Ryder Cup spot could be in danger
A generation of Ryder Cup legends resigned their DP World Tour memberships last summer when the circuit was granted the right to fine and suspend them for playing in LIV Golf events.
If Hatton were to keep his membership, he would receive fines and suspensions for playing in LIV events, creating a barrier to his participation in Europe and consequently, his Ryder Cup eligibility.
The same can be said for Rahm and Adrian Meronk, who has also been strongly linked with a move to Greg Norman’s breakaway league.
Hatton and Rahm were extremely important players in Luke Donald’s European side at the 2023 Ryder Cup, helping the home team to a convincing win over America at Marco Simone in Rome.
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The pair won both foursomes matches they played together, while they also earned 1.5 points between them in the singles to help extend Europe’s unbeaten home record dating back to 1997.
By the time the 2025 Ryder Cup rolls around, sanctions and general ill feelings between the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and LIV Golf may be put to one side.
LIV Golf’s primary investors, the Public Investment Fund, have been locked in talks with the two main tours for many months and a compromise to suit all parties is hoped to be found by the start of April.
If the objective to “unify the game of golf” is achieved, Hatton and Rahm may not need to sweat over keeping their Ryder Cup spots next year.
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