Europe’s Ryder Cup qualifying rules will not be changed to accommodate LIV golfers Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton for next year’s match against the USA, captain Luke Donald told BBC Sport.

Spaniard Rahm and England’s Hatton are now playing on the Saudi-funded LIV tour after being an outstanding team that helped Europe regain the trophy with a dramatic win in Rome last autumn.

Although they have said they plan to play in the match at Bethpage Black in New York in September 2025, Donald confirmed that they will need to play in “their four” DP World Tour events this season to at least maintain their eligibility.

Donald has welcomed Hatton’s decision to compete in this week’s British Masters – which marks the start of the qualifying process for the 2025 Ryder Cup – but Rahm will not be at the Belfry in Warwickshire.

Hatton returns to racing after appealing against sanctions imposed on him for taking part in LIV events without clearance from the Wentworth-based circuit.

He is deemed to have served the required suspensions and payment of any fines is suspended pending the outcome of his appeal.

“I want to be able to choose from the largest possible pool of players,” Donald said.

“There are some rules and regulations that players have to follow, whether it’s LIV or the DP World Tour, and I’m glad Tyrrell is following his. I know he plans to play a few more events in the next few months.”

Donald would “love it” if Rahm played

Immediately after Rahm’s groundbreaking move to LIV last December, Rory McIlroy said the European Tour would have to “rewrite the rules for participating in the Ryder Cup” because “we would certainly miss and need Jon in Bethpage.”

On their last visit to the USA in 2021, Europe lost 19-9 at Whistling Straits, and although that defeat was avenged with a 16.5-11.5 victory in Rome – Rahm and Hatton remained unbeaten in their four matches – the 2025 Ryder Cup in New York promises to be another difficult task.

However, Donald told BBC Sport on Tuesday: “There will not be a situation where we single out a single person to change the rule.”

He added: “The policy is very clear that you either pay the fines or appeal. Within the appeal period you can still compete in some DP World Tour events, so Jon knows exactly what is required.

“He wants to play in some events and be eligible to play. I hope he either pays the fines or appeals and becomes eligible to play for my team because I would love to have him on the team.”

Rahm still has two LIV events left this year, September 13-15 in Chicago and a week later in Dallas.

When Rahm announced his move to LIV in December, he talked about wanting to keep his membership on the DP World Tour and how “important the Spanish Open” was to him.

He has won the event three times, which is a record. This year’s tournament will take place in Madrid from September 26 to 29. The Andalucia Masters will also take place in his home country in October.

Qualification “adapted to changing conditions”

The European qualification process has been changed for this edition of the Ryder Cup with only one points list, with the top six qualifying for the 12-man team, with Donald again having six wildcard selections.

“We had to adapt to the changing landscape,” Donald said, referring to the fact that the top 10 DP World Tour players receive a PGA Tour card at the end of the season.

“A lot of the strongest players will play predominantly in the US, but we wanted to make sure people continued to support the DP World Tour, so we increased the points a little bit for the guys who play predominantly on that tour.

“It’s a points system where the six strongest players are selected and then we have the six flexible picks to round out the team.”