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Rory McIlroy has told Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton to prove how much they want to play in the next Ryder Cup by paying their combined £4.5million in outstanding fines. Rahm and Hatton both played huge roles in Team Europe's historic triumph at Bethpage Black last summer.

However, the pair are digging their heels in regarding the fines imposed on them by the DP World Tour for competing on the LIV Tour events without permission. The only reason Rahm and Hatton were able to participate in last summer's team battle against the USA was the fact they both appealed against the punishments administered to them when they joined the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund backed rebel tour two years ago.

Rahm revealed he has racked up around £2.2m in fines, which will only increase when he begins the next LIV campaign next month. If the LIV duo do not pay their fines, they will forsake their Tour membership, which would prevent them from donning the blue and gold at Adare Manor in 2027.

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Ahead of the start of the Dubai Tennis Classic, McIlroy was asked whether Rahm and Hatton should pay the fines to the tour. The Northern Irishman surprisingly chose not to remain neutral and put pressure on his Ryder Cup team-mates. When asked if it would be easier if Rahm and Hatton did pay, McIlroy replied: "Absolutely.

"Look, this is my opinion. We went really hard on the Americans about being paid to play the Ryder Cup [for the first time] and we also said that we would pay to play in Ryder Cups. Well, there's two guys that can prove it."

He added: "I think any organisation or any members' organisation like this has a right to uphold its rules and regulations. And what the DP World Tour are doing is upholding their rules and regulations.

"We, as members, sign a document at the start of every year, which has you agree to these rules and regulations, and the people that made the option to go to LIV knew what they were. So I don't see what's wrong with that."

Rahm has insisted he has "no intention" of paying any fines to the DP Tour, despite the fact he received an upfront fee of £300m to defect to LIV, while Hatton has maintained a similar stance having accepted a £50m upfront fee when he joined. They also look set to lose their appeal, with the tour previously winning a similar case against LIV defectees Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia in 2023.

Hatton has made it clear he does not want to lose his place in the Ryder Cup or the DP World Tour. When asked if he has received any information about the next steps in the dispute, he replied: "To be honest, I don't have an update to give [on any hearing].

"It's still with legal teams and there's guys that are still in conversations working it all out. I haven't put any more thought into that. I don't really know what's happening. I'm just here [Hero Dubai Desert Classic] to play golf as always."