Jon Rahm’s role in the upcoming Ryder Cup remains uncertain due to sanctions placed on him. On Wednesday, the Spanish golfer revealed his plan to take part in three DP World Tour events in the coming weeks to ensure his eligibility for the team competition. However, his plan might not follow through, as he has refused to pay the fines placed on him by the tour.
Following that, Shane Lowry has come out to reveal his wish to see Rahm on the European Ryder Cup side. Lowry noted that the Spaniard is an “absolute animal” in the competition and that he’d love to play alongside the LIV golfer. The six-time European Tour winner reiterated US skipper Keegan Bradley’s comment and said that he wishes to see ‘the 12 best players’ in the team.
Replying to a media query on the importance of letting Jon Rahm play DP World Tour events and qualify for the Ryder Cup, Lowry said the decision didn’t lie in his hands. He deflected conversations regarding forming possible exemptions for LIV golfers by stating that it wasn’t for him to decide.
Shane Lowry said at the Irish Open (as quoted by ASAP Sports):
“I know what you're alluding to, and I know that -- do I want Jon Rahm on the Ryder Cup Team? Yes. You know, show be allowed to break the rules and make the Ryder Cup Team? Should there be exemptions made? I'm not sure. That's not for me to decide… But at the end of the day, we want to try to have the 12 best players we can next year in Bethpage and if he's one of them we probably do want him.
"I'm not going to make those decisions. I want to be there on myself. Rahmbo in the Ryder Cup is an absolute animal. I've seen him in two Ryder Cups and he's unbelievable. If there's only one person bigger than the Ryder Cup, I'm not sure. We'll see.”
Jon Rahm plans to compete in DP World Tour despite sanctions
Jon Rahm announced his plan to compete in DP World Tour events in the coming weeks.
It's pertinent to note that golfers like Rahm, who joined LIV Golf, needs to compete in four DP World Tour events -- with the Olympics counting as one -- to qualify for the Ryder Cup as an automatic selection. Addressing the same, the Spaniard expressed his wish to compete in the circuit’s events despite having refused to pay the fines placed on him.
The 29-year-old golfer said that he plans to play in his home Spanish Open later this month. He's looking to follow it up with the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the Andalucia Masters. However, his eligibility remains doubtful as the golfer owes around $1.7 million in fines to the European Tour.
Jon Rahm said ahead of LIV Golf Chicago:
“Whether they (DP World Tour) let me play or not is a different thing. I’m not a big fan of the fines. ... 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 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 (the Andalucia Masters) in Sotogrande.”
Rahm, who joined LIV Golf last year in December alongside European Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton, noted that circuit officials will be doing Spanish golf a ‘disservice’ by not letting him compete.