Tommy Fleetwood says the Ryder Cup is “bigger than any individual” after he was asked whether he believes Jon Rahm should be included in next year’s European Ryder Cup team.
Rahm is set to appear in next week’s Spanish Open but came within hours of forfeiting his place on the 2025 Ryder Cup side.
The Spaniard has objected to paying the fines imposed on him by the DP World Tour but an appeals process does mean he is eligible to compete in the minimum number of events needed by the end of the season to be eligible to play in Bethpage Black next year. – a decision Luke Donald described as a ‘win.’
“I think, you know, there can be a Ryder Cup team without any particular player in it,” Fleetwood told reporters before the BMW PGA Championship when asked if he could imagine a team without Rahm.
“The cup is bigger than any one individual.
“But you know, I think if you look at the last Ryder Cup team, there was a big deal made about who we were missing in the last Ryder Cup in terms of not even — playing is one side and presence in a team room is another and we didn’t have a lot of big characters in the last one.
“You don’t want to lose anybody that you know that you can have there but at the same time, the Ryder Cup is much bigger than all of us.”
The Englishman was asked if the rules and regulations needed to be change to avoid needing to be a member of the DP World Tour to be eligible for Ryder Cup selection.
“I think if you’re going to play for Team Europe — in my opinion, you should be a member and a part of the Tour in some respect.
“I’m not saying it has to be necessarily super strict but following the regulations at the moment are the right thing to do.”
Rory McIlroy was asked about having Rahm on a Ryder Cup team and he was complimentary of the Spaniard and believes he will be on the team next year.
“Jon Rahm, the way he’s playing right now and the way he’s played since he turned pro in 2016 or ’17 or whatever it is, Jon Rahm is a wonderful addition to the European Team.
“Well, from my understanding, he is following the rules. He appealed the decision or whatever it is that he did. So that makes him eligible, as long as he plays his minimum number of events, like Members of the Tour have to do to be eligible for the Ryder Cup.
“So I wouldn’t expect someone that as a Member of the Tour, you know what the rules are to be able to play a Ryder Cup and be eligible, and as long as you meet that criteria, then you’re okay to play.”
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