Jon Rahm outlines 'dark moment' with wife Kelley after dropping Ryder Cup bombshell
Former Masters champion Jon Rahm has confirmed he has committed to playing the Spanish Open but is disputing his LIV Golf fines.
Jon Rahm has given his 2025 Ryder Cup prospects a massive boost by confirming he has committed to the Spanish Open.
But the golfer is refusing to pay the fines imposed on him by the DP World Tour as a result of his decision to join the breakaway LIV Golf League.
Rahm's inclusion in Luke Donald's dozen next September was in jeopardy had he decided against playing his home open in Madrid at the end of the month.
Update:
It was thought that Rahm needed to play a minimum of four events on the DP World Tour by the end of the year to retain his membership and be eligible for the biennial dust-up in New York next September.
Rahm told reporters on Wednesday in Chicago that the Olympics counted towards this and therefore the number of tournaments required is three.
The 29-year-old said he's committed to playing at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid over 26-29 September.
But he is refusing to pay the fines.
Rahm never resigned his DP World Tour membership and, just like his teammate Tyrrell Hatton, has been racking up fines when he competes in LIV events.
The total amount he is being fined is not known, although players such as Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter have suggested it is far less than the fines imposed on them when they joined LIV in 2022.
Rahm said: "I'm entered into the tournament [the Spanish Open].
"We entered a long time ago. Whether they let me play or not is a different thing. I'm not a big fan of the fines.
"I think I've been outspoken about that. I don't intend to pay the fines, and we keep trying to have a discussion with them about how we can make this happen.
"I've said many times, I don't go to the Spanish Open for the glory or anything else.
"I think it's my duty to Spanish golf to be there, and I also want to play in Sotogrande.
"At that point, it would almost be doing not only me but Spanish golf a disservice by not letting me play, so yeah, that's why we're trying to talk to them and make that happen."
Rahm said he would like to play the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship over 3-6 October as well.
Brooks Koepka is also down to play.
"I would also love to play the Dunhill," Rahm said.
"I have a good friend who asked me to play, and Joe has been has been a great, great ambassador for the game of golf.
"I would love to be able to play all those events."
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Dark moment
Rahm told reporters before the final men's major of the year, The Open at Royal Troon, that his wife Kelley was experiencing a difficult third pregnancy.
The couple already have two boys called Kepa and Eneko.
The golfer said that made it difficult working out a schedule for the rest of the year.
Rahm said Kelley is now doing 'really good' but there was 'a dark moment'.
He said: "When I say moment, it was every bit of two months, and I feel like we're coming out of that right now. We're towards the end.
"Because of the issues we've had, they probably won't let her go a lot past 38 weeks, but she keeps doing better and better, so they keep changing what her deadline is."
Rahm added: "I think right now, most likely if the baby doesn't come early, we might try to induce right after Dallas.
"It could be a case where I go home, deliver the baby, and then fly Tuesday or Wednesday to Madrid.
"So I could have a case of flying Thursday morning and teeing off Thursday afternoon, could have a case of flying Wednesday afternoon and teeing off Thursday morning.
"I'd say right now we have that going on, but if the baby comes early we'll see what happens.
"I probably would still try to go back home and spend some time with them before I'm gone for the other weeks."
