As the Arora Group breaks ground on a full estate transformation, golf legends Gary Player, Justin Rose and EGD lead the design of a world- class course aimed at bringing the Ryder Cup back to British soil. Words Matt Nicholson

The celebrated Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa has officially entered a new era, as the Arora Group launched its multi-million- pound redevelopment with a high-profile groundbreaking ceremony on the historic 1,100-acre Bedfordshire estate.

The event, which signals one of the most ambitious luxury and sporting transformations currently underway in the UK, marks the beginning of a project that aims to place Luton Hoo firmly among Europe’s elite golfing destinations – and potentially home to the 2035 Ryder Cup.

The ceremony brought together industry heavyweights including Surinder Arora, Founder and Chairman of the Arora Group, and Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor.

Their presence underscored the strategic partnership between the Arora Group and Accor, which will see the estate relaunch under the prestigious Fairmont Hotels & Resorts brand.

Once completed, Luton Hoo will join an exclusive hospitality portfolio that includes The Savoy in London and the Fairmont Windsor Park.

For Arora, the redevelopment represents more than a commercial investment; it is a personal mission rooted in admiration for one of Britain’s most storied country estates.

Luton Hoo’s history includes hosting Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during part of their honeymoon, and its architecture and landscapes have long been recognised among the most elegant in
the country.

Now, the Arora Group is aiming to elevate that legacy with a combination of world- class hospitality, championship-level sport and destination-defining wellness and events facilities.

A VISION BEYOND LUXURY

What is planned for Luton Hoo goes far beyond a refurbishment. The project’s stated vision is to create a world-class sporting and hospitality destination that blends heritage with a contemporary sense of luxury and ambition.

At its heart lies the redevelopment of the hotel under the Fairmont brand, which Arora describes as “a complete luxury overhaul” designed to offer levels of comfort and refinement unparalleled in the region.

Award-winning design studio Kim Partridge Interiors has been appointed to lead the transformation of the estate’s interiors.

Their mandate is to honour the historic elegance of the property while reimagining its guest experience through bespoke, world-class design.

Early concepts point to a modern yet timeless aesthetic that will enhance the mansion’s architectural splendour while delivering the high-touch sophistication associated with Fairmont’s global portfolio.

Beyond the hotel, Luton Hoo’s facilities will undergo substantial upgrades,
including a full renewal of its spa and wellness centre – already considered one of the most impressive in southern England – alongside the construction of a new clubhouse and a state-of- the-art meeting and events venue.

The aim is to create a multi-faceted resort capable of attracting international visitors, major conferences and luxury travellers, as well as becoming a home for elite golf.

THE RYDER CUP AMBITION

At the centre of the estate’s sporting transformation is the creation of a new championship golf course, designed through a rare collaboration between two icons of the game: Gary Player and Justin Rose.

Both men bring world-class credentials, Player as one of golf’s greatest global ambassadors, and Rose as a major champion and Olympic gold medallist, making the partnership a bold statement of intent.

The course is being designed not just as a place for members and guests to enjoy, but as a venue capable of hosting the Ryder Cup.

The UK is widely expected to host the event in 2035, and Arora Group’s intention is clear: Luton Hoo will be in the running.

In an exclusive conversation with Golf News earlier this year, Surinder Arora revealed that the dream of hosting the Ryder Cup began the moment he first saw the estate.

“As soon as I saw it and we drove up to the main mansion, I said, ‘I’m going to buy this.’ Without even going inside,” he recalled.

The purchase was completed “cash, sold as seen,” sealing what he describes as an emotional commitment as much as a business acquisition.

Arora’s long-standing friendship with Gary Player and his admiration for Justin Rose helped set the foundation for a design team he describes as “the best team we could have.”

Their work will see the course reshaped dramatically, stretching towards the estate’s lake to create what Arora says will be “signature holes that will be amazing.” Discussions also include the creation of a Rose Golf Academy, aimed at bringing opportunities to young golfers in the surrounding communities.

SOMETHING TRULY SPECIAL AND ENDURING

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, Surinder Arora said:

“Luton Hoo’s heritage is exceptional, and we are incredibly proud to commence the redevelopment that will bring this stunning property back to its full glory and potential.

To have the artistic vision of Kim Partridge Interiors shaping our guest experience, alongside golf legends Gary Player and Justin Rose designing our course, is a huge statement of our intent to create something truly special and enduring for the UK.”

That enduring legacy is what motivates the entire project. The Arora Group intends for Luton Hoo to become both a world-renowned hospitality landmark and a golf destination capable of standing alongside Europe’s finest. With construction now officially underway, anticipation is building not only

for the reopening of a great British estate, but for the possibility that its rolling parkland may soon stage golf ’s most historic team event.

If the vision becomes reality, Luton Hoo won’t just return to its former glory, it will step into a new era as one of the UK’s most significant luxury and sporting venues. The Ryder Cup dream has begun.

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The new deal, starting from 2026, will see Sky Sports exclusively broadcast the next two instalments of golf’s most iconic team competition – the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor, Ireland and the 2029 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, USA.

Record numbers of sports fans have tuned into Sky Sports golf coverage this year. This extension follows an historic 2025 Ryder Cup victory for Team Europe little over a month ago which was central to the most-watched weekend in Sky Sports history, with 5 million tuning in across the three-day tournament.

Sunday’s singles session attracted the highest-ever peak audience for golf on Sky Sports, with one in four TV viewers watching the dramatic finale, including more than 40% of under-35s.

Sky Sports social channels also generated 55 million total views across all platforms, while digital engagement saw 12.4 million page views across Ryder Cup week on the Sky Sports app and skysports.com.

Under the new agreement, Sky Sports viewers will continue to enjoy unrivalled coverage of the DP World Tour’s global schedule that visits 25 countries in 2026, including five Rolex Series events – the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Genesis Scottish Open, BMW PGA Championship, Abu Dhabi Championship, and DP World Tour Championship.

Sky’s Chief Sports Officer, Jonathan Licht, said: “Extending our long-standing partnership with the DP World Tour comes at a time when golf viewership is reaching record heights. This year’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black once again proved why it remains one of the most compelling events in world sport and we look forward to bringing fans the next two. We also saw record audiences for the Tour at the Amgen Irish Open this year and we know there will be many more unmissable moments from the season-long Race to Dubai over the next four years.”

Guy Kinnings, Chief Executive Officer of the DP World Tour, added: “As golf’s global Tour, the DP World Tour’s unparalleled diversity of locations and players is really resonating with fans, with an increased viewership on Sky Sports this season and increased spectator numbers at our events. This year’s Ryder Cup also reinforced that golf’s greatest team contest produces the levels of drama that few other sporting events can match. With the storytelling prowess of Sky Sports for four more years, we’re well set to continue growing our fan base.”

Sky Sports remains the home of golf in the UK and Ireland, showcasing the biggest moments from the sport all year-round including all four men’s majors and all five women’s majors exclusively live. Golf coverage on Sky Sports gives fans an unrivalled viewing experience, combining cutting-edge technology and storytelling to bring audiences as close as possible to the live action.

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Europe Doubles Up in Morning Foursomes

Team Europe came out firing in the Saturday morning foursomes, extending their dominance with a 3-1 victory over the U.S. side. 
Standout pairings included Rory McIlroy & Tommy Fleetwood, who defeated Collin Morikawa and Harris English 3 & 2 to maintain their perfect record in the format. 
Meanwhile, Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton produced a highlight moment with a stunning chip-in as they prevailed over Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay. 
The only U.S. win in the session came via Bryson DeChambeau & Cameron Young, who edged out Matt Fitzpatrick and Ludvig Åberg — preventing a complete shutout.

Afternoon Four-Balls Favours Europe Again

The afternoon four-ball session mirrored the morning’s outcome: Europe again earned 3 of 4 points, handing the U.S. side little breathing room. 
A key match saw Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry prevail against Justin Thomas and Cameron Young, overcoming a rowdy gallery and handling pressure with poise. 
Elsewhere, Matt Fitzpatrick & Tyrrell Hatton sealed a dramatic point after both players struck iron shots inside three feet on the 18th green, turning the tide away from Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay. 
The lone U.S. point came from J.J. Spaun & Xander Schauffele, who battled through and pocketed a win in one of the tighter afternoon matches.

Crowd Tensions Escalate

While Europe’s golf on-track was dominant, off-course drama captured attention. Fan hostility toward European players escalated, particularly during McIlroy and Lowry’s match, forcing extra security measures and prompting organisers to reinforce spectator etiquette. 
McIlroy, visibly agitated by heckling, was heard admonishing the crowd with an expletive during one exchange. 
Lowry, too, had to be restrained by his caddie as he attempted to confront a heckler. 
In response, the PGA of America increased security, added police presence, and issued warnings via video boards about spectator behaviour.

Europe Enters Sunday on the Brink

By day’s end, Europe held a commanding lead of 11½ points to 4½, marking the largest margin ever after four team sessions in the modern 28-point format. 
With only 12 points available in Sunday’s singles, the U.S. now faces an uphill battle. 
European captain Luke Donald praised his team’s composure in the hostile conditions, saying their response to adversity has been “what makes me most proud.”
On the U.S. side, captain Keegan Bradley acknowledged Europe’s dominance and the difficult task ahead, while also defending the intensity of the home crowd.

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The tone was set in the opening foursomes. Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg, making his Ryder Cup debut, and Matt Fitzpatrick dismantled world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley 5 & 3, a result that drew gasps from the raucous galleries. “We knew it was going to be hostile,” Fitzpatrick said, “but we fed off it. Ludvig was fearless, and that energy carried us.”

Europe rode that wave to claim three of the four morning matches. The Americans’ lone bright spot came from Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, who steadied the ship with a victory over Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland.

If U.S. fans hoped for a red-white-and-blue rally in the fourballs, Europe had other plans. Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka added to the U.S. frustration by defeating Scheffler and J.J. Spaun 3 & 2, leaving Scheffler winless on the day. “It’s disappointing, no question,” Scheffler admitted. “I didn’t give us enough, and in this competition, every shot matters.”

FLEETWOOD MAC

Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood once again embodied Europe’s backbone, grinding out crucial holes in front of a partisan crowd that grew quieter with each European putt. “Momentum is everything in the Ryder Cup,” McIlroy said. “We wanted to quiet the crowd, and when you do that here, it almost feels like you’ve won twice.”

The U.S. did find a spark when Justin Thomas and Cameron Young hammered Nicolai Højgaard and Shane Lowry 6 & 5, the most lopsided win of the day. Thomas raised his fist to the grandstands afterward, urging fans to stay with the home side. “We’ve got two more days,” he said. “This thing is far from over.”

Off the course, the day began with a jolt when a power line exploded near the main entrance, briefly halting fans on their way in. No one was seriously injured, but the crackle of electricity seemed an omen for a turbulent day.

By the evening, the mood belonged to Europe. Their preparation — including the much-discussed use of virtual reality headsets to simulate New York heckling — appeared to pay off. Players looked calm where the Americans looked edgy.

Donald was quick to keep his team grounded. “It’s a fantastic start, but it’s only one day,” he said. “We know the Americans are going to come back hard. Our job is to be ready.”

Still, the history books offer encouragement for Europe. In the modern era, no team leading by three or more points after Day One has gone on to lose the Ryder Cup. With the Black Course baring its teeth and the home crowd desperate for a swing in momentum, Saturday looms as a defining day for Keegan Bradley’s Americans.

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Donald, who guided Europe to victory at Marco Simone in 2023, described the past three and a half years as “one of the most rewarding things” in his life. “It’s been a privilege, and to obviously get an opportunity to do one home and one away is something not a lot of people have had,” he said.

The Englishman expressed confidence in his side’s preparation and togetherness, noting that 11 of the 12 players from Rome are back for this year’s matches.

“It’s a very similar team, which is unusual, never happened in the history of our Ryder Cup teams in Europe, to have 11 come back. So we have a lot of cohesion. I certainly haven’t had to work that hard with these guys because of what we did two years ago.”

BETHPAGE STRATEGY

On the challenge of Bethpage Black, Donald acknowledged the difficulty of the famed public course but suggested it would reward aggressive play.

“Bethpage is a tough course, but it’s certainly not set up like a U.S. Open. You’re going to have to expect to go out there and make some birdies. These are world-class players.”

As captain, Donald emphasised his role in finding small advantages and creating an environment where his team can thrive, factors he hopes can tilt the Ryder Cup odds in Europe’s favour

“Ultimately it’s my job to get those guys in the right frame of mind, performing at the highest level. If things go wrong, then yeah, there will be lots of questions aimed at me, and that’s the responsibility you take as a captain.”

REMEMBERING THE GREATS

He also highlighted the importance of unity and symbolism. The European team wore salmon pink in practice, a nod to the 1987 side that claimed Europe’s first victory on U.S. soil.

“It’s always important to rally around something. History and our unity and celebrating what we’ve done in the past and the legends that have come before us is really important. It can be done, it has been done, and we’re here to try and do it again.”

Donald added that creating memories beyond the competition is part of his role. “My job is to, one, obviously get the guys ready but create an experience for them that they’ll never forget. We want to create a week where they have the most fun, on and off the golf course.”

As for his personal approach, Donald said he has learned to embrace the magnitude of the role. “Being a captain is not easy. There’s a lot of buildup, a lot that goes into it.

You can get engulfed and swallowed up in the little details. But both of us, we need to embrace it, enjoy it, because these are opportunities you don’t get very often. To have a chance to do it twice is incredible. It’s certainly something I do not ever take for granted.”

With the buildup now over, Donald is eager for the action to begin. “It’s been a long buildup, and now it’s time to let the guys go play.”

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Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau qualified via points, which concluded on August 17.

“I am immensely proud to select these six players for the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup Team,” said Bradley. “All six are incredibly talented and deserving of a spot on our team. Together with the six qualifiers, our team features a strong blend of Ryder Cup veterans and rookies, each bringing unique strengths and experience that will be hugely beneficial in our quest to reclaim the Cup next month at Bethpage Black.”

Cantlay, 33, competing in his third Ryder Cup, brings a wealth of match play experience to the team. He owns a 5-2-1 career Ryder Cup record, highlighted by a perfect 2-0-0 mark in singles and a 3-0-1 performance in 2021 at Whistling Straits. Cantlay collected 10 top-15 finishes this season on the PGA TOUR, including T-2 at the TOUR Championship.

Griffin’s breakthrough season earned him his first U.S. Ryder Cup Team berth. The 29-year-old collected his first two PGA TOUR victories at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and Charles Schwab Challenge. His 10 top-10 results this season—which tied for second-most behind only Scottie Scheffler—included The Memorial Tournament (runner-up), PGA Championship (T-8), U.S. Open (T-10), Fedex St. Jude Championship (T-9) and TOUR Championship (T-10).

Morikawa, 28, will represent the U.S. for a third time in the Ryder Cup. The two-time Major Champion is 4-3-1 all-time, including 2-1-0 in foursomes and four-ball and going 3-0-1 in his Ryder Cup debut at Whistling Straits in 2021. Morikawa ranked second on the PGA TOUR this season in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (1.233) and third in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green (0.848).

Thomas is making his fourth Ryder Cup appearance, most among the 12 team members. The 32-year-old boasts a 7-4-2 record, including 3-0-0 in singles matches. The two-time PGA Champion secured his 16th PGA TOUR win in April when he birdied the first playoff hole in the RBC Heritage. He also totaled eight top-10 finishes, including three runner-ups, and recorded rounds of 63, 62 and 61 in competition this season.

Young, 28, is one of four Ryder Cup rookies on the U.S. Team. The 28-year-old finished the 2025 season on a high note, earning his first PGA TOUR victory with a commanding six-shot victory at the Wyndham Championship earlier this month and posting top-12 finishes in each of his last four starts. Born in Scarborough, N.Y., Young made history at Bethpage Black in 2017 when, as a teenager, he became the first amateur to capture the Met PGA N.Y. State Open.

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Meet the Man Who Wants to Bring the Ryder Cup to Luton Hoo

Interview Matt Nicholson

It’s been more than two decades since the Ryder Cup was last staged in England. In 2002, Sam Torrance captained Europe to a 15½-12½ victory over the United States at The Belfry, the fourth time the famous North Warwickshire venue hosted the biennial contest.

It remains to be seen whether England’s wait to host the prestigious contest will extend beyond 30 years. As it stands, Camiral Golf & Wellness Resort (formerly PGA Catalunya) in Spain is reported to be in pole position to host the event in 2031, although there has yet to be an official announcement.

One man that will be hoping to see the Ryder Cup return to England is Surinder Arora, the founder and chairman of Arora Group, owners of The Buckinghamshire Golf Club.

Four years ago, the company bought Luton Hoo, and Arora has big plans for the venue. Work will soon commence on building a new course, one that will be worthy of hosting the Ryder Cup.

That’s the dream: Luton Hoo, Ryder Cup venue 2031. He might settle for 2035, but the ambitious billionaire businessman, who moved to England from India when he was 13 years old, is ploughing on with his bold plans for the property regardless – and he has a lot of good support, too, in the shape of golfing legends Gary Player and Justin Rose.

Matt Nicholson caught up with Surinder Arora at his Heathrow offices to talk about his love of the game, and what golfers can look forward to seeing at Luton Hoo in the not-too-distant future and something special in the pipeline at his Fairmont Windsor Hotel in Berkshire.

When did you discover your passion for the game?

It was really when I moved to Wentworth in 1999. A parent at my daughter’s school persuaded me to play a game on the Edinburgh course. He gave me a shot a hole. We played two games, and I never won a single hole. He said, ‘Surinder, you’re so bad – you’ll never beat me!’ That’s what got me going.

Did you beat him?

I went and had a few lessons. Within eight or nine months we were kind of level. I remember the first time I was winning when we got to the 18th on the West.

I was one up. I said, ‘Come on, let’s double the bet.

I’ll give you a shot.’ I lost the hole, but I reminded him that he said I’d never beat him, and that I had just had to give him a shot. It was all about bragging rights.

What’s been your most memorable golfing moment?

I remember it clearly. I always used to say to my son, Sanjay, that one day I want to go to the Masters.

Six years ago, when it was my 60th birthday, he made a plan. He put all these dummy appointments in my diary.

Then, a couple of days before the Masters, we sat down for dinner and he said, ‘Dad, I’ve got a surprise for you. We’re going first to the Masters. First class.’

That’s not a bad birthday present…

When we got there, he’d planned for us to have dinner with Gary Player at a place near Augusta. Gary’s been a good friend for many years.

I watched the Masters on Thursday, had dinner with Gary that evening, and I played golf with him the next morning at one of the local courses.

I was standing on the first tee pinching myself, wondering whether it was all real. I never thought anything like this existed.

I remember thinking if I’d come ten years earlier, I would have gone back to England and looked for 600 acres of land and I’d have built my own Augusta National of Europe.

What about your most memorable round?

Playing with Padraig Harrington in the BMW PGA Pro-Am at Wentworth. It was about 15 years ago. I was playing off about 20. I’ve got some funny habits, and Padraig kept giving me tips.

It was one of those days. I went out in 40 and came back in 41. Maybe one day I can get to a ten or twelve handicap, I thought. I’ve never done it again, but I love the game.

What is it you enjoy the game so much?

It’s just such a great game, regardless of your age. My dear friend, KP Singh, the owner of DLF, he’s 95 and he plays four times a week.

Look at Gary – approaching 90, and he’s out on the golf course every day. Then you see youngsters. My four-year-old grandson is having lessons. That’s the beauty of this amazing game.

Has the game influenced your personal and professional life?

It’s had a big impact on both in a positive way. You meet such wonderful people, young and old, and then there’s the etiquette.

I really miss it now if I don’t play. On a good day, I can play off 16. I just love the game. It’s about the people you play with and the people you meet.

Let’s talk about your work. What was your vision starting out?

When I started, I wanted to build a four-star hotel. I wanted to offer five-star service at three- and-a-half star prices.

If you can do that, you can beat your competitors. That was the vision, and we did that against the big boys. Within 12 years, we became the largest family-owned hotel company in the UK.

Tell us about how you acquired Luton Hoo?

About a year after coming back from that Augusta trip, Knight Frank rang and asked if I was interested in buying it. I said no.

Then, one Sunday, Sanjay took his wife and my grandson to Whipsnade Zoo, which is around the corner, and then went to Luton Hoo for afternoon tea.

The next day, he said, ‘I’ve got an appointment, and you’re coming with me!’ We jumped in the car and went to Luton Hoo.

As soon as I saw it and we drove up to the main mansion, I said, ‘I’m going to buy this.’ Without even going inside.

We bought it cash – sold as seen. To become the custodian of such a beautiful estate, it’s amazing. That’s when the dream of hosting the Ryder Cup started.

Is that dream still alive?

Yes. The only problem was that the previous owner got the planning permission 20 years earlier to build the golf course, but with no bunkers.

You can’t host any championship if you don’t have bunkers. So, that’s the challenge.

We’ve been working really hard with the local authority, local planners, and Historic England.

The dream is to create something really special that not only creates hundreds of jobs, but puts central Bedfordshire on the world map.

People still talk about The Belfry, which was the last time the Ryder Cup was held in England. This is what we want to try and do.

Who will be designing the course?

We have put together an amazing team. We’ve got European Golf Design, with Jeremy Slessor and Dave Sampson.

I’ve also got Gary Player and Justin Rose. Normally you wouldn’t get two of the greats working together like that.

I’ve known Gary for 25 years now, and Justin is such a gentleman. It’s not just about building a golf course for a competition.

I’ve spoken to Justin about also doing a Rose Golf Academy for young people around the area. I feel we have the best team.

Will the new course be on the existing layout?

When you drive around, you’ve got the stables on the right – that’s where the golf shop and everything else is.

You’ve got three or four holes in the middle, and then you’ve got the rest of the course on the left as you’re looking from the road.

We’re trying to remove those middle courses and return that back to parkland, which was a huge tick in the box for Historic England.

We’re taking it all the way down to the signature holes by the lake. It’s going to be amazing.

When will the work commence at Luton Hoo?

After Easter this year. We’re not going to wait. We’ve got to see if we can get the Ryder Cup in 2031 or 2035. We’re still going to keep pushing for 2031.

What makes the service at The Buckinghamshire and Luton Hoo different?

When I was opening my first at a hotel, I got a very experienced General Manager, who had 25 years in the Forte Hotel Group, Guy Morris.

I remember telling Guy one day that I wanted to be different from other hotel companies. I wanted us to treat our staff like family and our guests like royalty.

You recently appointed Gerry Ivers from Queenwood. Are you looking to grow your portfolio?

I’ve always said that we look at anything and everything. We have acquired Fairmont Windsor Park.

It was about 20 odd acres, and now we have nearly 250, so we can build a lovely golf course there, attached to the Fairmont. That would be built by the same team as the Ryder Cup one for Luton Hoo.

 

You’ve invested over £11 million into transforming the clubhouse at The Buckingshamshire. Are any other investments planned?

I’ve given the go ahead for a drainage project. We need to replace 14 holes, so we’ll get all 18 done.

We’re taking no shortcuts. There’s also a bit of extra work to be done on the 17th and 18th holes, which will happen this year. Sanjay has an amazing golf club.

What’s the joining fee at The Buckinghamshire?

They are just raising the fee from £20,000 to £25,000, but it’s so close to London.

The type of clientele they’ve got now is incredible. For me, it’s my passion – and it has the Arora Group branding on the doorstep!

If you could change one thing about the golf industry, what would it be?

That’s a tough one. There’s nothing I would say I’d change. Hopefully we’ll get more people putting cash into golf rather than just saying, ‘What return can I get?’ That would be great for the game.

What advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur looking to invest in golf?

There are always different returns. You’ll never get the returns that you can make in tech, for example.

Choose what your passion is, like we have. Then make sure, to the best of your ability, to keep in the black rather than the red

The post THE INTERVIEW: SURINDER ARORA appeared first on Golf News.

Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Adrian Meronk have all appealed against the monetary sanctions handed down for competing on the Saudi-funded breakaway without permission.

That means they are allowed to play enough DP World Tour events to retain their membership and be eligible for September’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage.

No date or deadline has been set for the appeal, leading two-time DP World Tour winner Eddie Pepperell to suggest last year that it will “conveniently” not take place until after Europe’s bid for a first win on American soil since 2012.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future but I can tell you my plan is to be on that team at Bethpage,” Rahm said in a press conference ahead of his debut appearance in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Pressed on whether he would pay his fines if the appeal failed, Rahm added: “I don’t know what’s going to happen and I’m hoping they don’t try to settle the appeal before the Ryder Cup.

“I don’t think that would be good for anybody.”

LIV APPEAL

Players who initially joined LIV in June 2022 appealed against their suspensions and fines and were able to compete until April 2023, when an arbitration panel found in favour of the DP World Tour and ratified its right to enforce its regulations.

Two months later, the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) – which bankrolls LIV Golf – announced they had signed a “framework agreement” aimed at ending golf’s civil war.

Talks have been going on ever since and Rahm admitted he expected a solution to be closer than it appears by now.

“I think a lot of us would say that when that framework agreement was done over a year and a half ago, things would be further along at this point,” the two-time major winner said.

“And it’s real hard to know what goes on behind closed doors. It’s up to people much higher up than me. I don’t know what their vision is or what they are expecting out of it.

“But I think we’re living in a golden era right now for golf where the possibilities are endless.

“A big tour in Europe and worldwide and a massive tour, the PGA Tour, and you have another big product with LIV and now you’re even adding the TGL. When it comes to golf, the possibilities are there right now.

“I think with the right minds put together, you can end up with a product and I’ve been saying this all along, that could put golf at a different level in the world of sport. I’m still hopeful that that can happen.”

GARCIA LOOKING FOR RECORD

Rahm also reiterated his support for fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who has paid substantial fines and rejoined the DP World Tour as he seeks a European record-equalling 11th Ryder Cup appearance.

“For people that see him any given day, Sergio Garcia can hit it tee-to-green better than anybody on the planet,” Rahm said.

“It’s that simple. He’s still that good and he’s still very valuable.

“I understand the change in circumstances. I get it. But at the end of the day, being Spanish and a friend and a mentor, I’m obviously going to be biased towards him. And I would love to see him in that team room.

“I think there will be a place for Sergio on the Ryder Cup any given time. It’s just a matter of letting his the clubs do the talking.”

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The Arora Group, owners of the iconic hotel located just south of Luton, had previously secured permission to construct an additional golf course with the hopes of hosting the renowned USA vs Europe contest in the future.

The latest plans, which included a full application and listed building consent, were submitted to Central Bedfordshire Council.

They outline a significant extension to the spa housed within the former stables building, alongside a series of ambitious upgrades. The council’s development management committee unanimously approved the proposals, which also received listed building consent.

HOTEL UPGRADES

The comprehensive revamp includes alterations to the historic Adams building, the creation of a new pavilion, new tennis and padel courts, and a children’s play area within Columnhill Woods.

Additionally, the spa refurbishment is designed to elevate the hotel’s offerings, aligning with its vision of securing the Ryder Cup in either 2031 or 2035.

Central Bedfordshire principal planning officer Caroline Macrdechian described the upgrades as a transformative development for the area, stating, “This would bring the prestige of a Fairmont hotel to the authority.” However, as the hotel sits within the green belt, the plans are still subject to referral to the communities secretary for final approval.

EXTRA JOBS

Concerns over heritage preservation and potential tree loss were raised but did not prevent the project from progressing.

Surinder Arora, founder and chairman of the Arora Group, referred to the upgrades as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” He revealed that the investment had far exceeded initial expectations.

“Originally, we thought we might spend up to £50m. The dream has been getting bigger, and we’re now looking at an investment of £160m to £170m, which will create more than 350 extra jobs,” he explained.

As part of the redevelopment, the hotel’s lake, which has suffered from silting, and the nearby River Lea will also undergo significant restoration.

These enhancements aim to position Luton Hoo as a world-class venue capable of hosting the Ryder Cup and attracting golf enthusiasts from around the globe.

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