Jon Rahm yet to make crucial Ryder Cup decision

GolfMagic understands Jon Rahm is still yet to commit to the Spanish Open despite the event being key to his chances for Ryder Cup eligibility.

Ben Smith

03 Sep 2024

GolfMagic understands Jon Rahm is yet to commit to the Spanish Open later this month.

Rahm has previously indicated the DP World Tour stop has been circled on his calendar for a number of reasons.

First of all his home open is close to his heart and he is a three-time champion of the event, held annually in Madrid.

But more crucially this year it would count as one of four events he needs to play before the end of the year so he can keep his DP World Tour membership for 2025 and retain eligibility to be selected in the Ryder Cup.

Entry for the acciona Open de Espana closes on Thursday 12 September.

A DP World Tour official has told us today (Tuesday) Rahm has yet to enter.

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Rahm has made no secret his desire to play in the Ryder Cup next September at Behtpage Black despite putting his future in the contest in jepoardy after joining LIV last December for a reported £450m ($566.4m).

During the Olympic Games last month, Rahm declared the most meaningful week in his career arrives at the biennial showdown where he makes no money.

But if he misses the Spanish Open it becomes difficult to see how he could be eligible for the Cup in 2025.

Aside from the Spanish Open, there are only six events left on the DP World Tour calendar and two of them (the French Open and Andalucia Masters) clash with the remaining tournaments left in LIV's 2024 campaign.

The breakaway tour heads to Chicago over 13-15 September and Dallas for the team championship over 20-22 September.

That would mean Rahm would have to commit to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Genesis Championship, Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

Complicating matters further for Rahm is the fact that his wife Kelley is having a difficult third pregnancy.

Rahm told reporters before The Open at Royal Troon that he would always put his family first in this regard and the situation has made it difficult for him to work out his schedule.

But that doesn't change the fact that unless he fulfils his quota, then he wouldn't be able to rely on a captain's pick.

Captain Donald made it clear earlier in the month that the rules would not be changed to accommodate the 2023 Masters champion.

"I've had many conversations with Jon," he said.

"He absolutely knows what the deal is. He knew when he signed for LIV what the policies were on the DP World Tour. You have to play your four.

"Per all the policies, he can pay the fines or he can appeal like some of the guys have, and that gives him the opportunity to do that.

"It's really up to him to do that and become eligible. He certainly mentioned at the [US] PGA Championship he was willing to do whatever it took to commit to me and the team. I hope that happens."

Rahm has an overall Ryder Cup record of 6-3-3.

He made his Ryder Cup debut in 2018 in Paris and memorably beat Tiger Woods in the Sunday singles en route to Europe's emphatic victory at Le Golf National.