Jon Rahm in ‘conversations’ over Ryder Cup situation

Two-time major champion Jon Rahm says he remains in ‘conversations’ to compete at next year’s Ryder Cup.

The Spaniard must be a member of the DP World Tour and pay fines for his LIV Golf move to represent Team Europe at Bethpage Black.

In May, DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings also said he would be eligible to feature if he made four starts on the circuit each season.

Speaking ahead of the Open, Rahm admitted he is yet to pay his fines but is hopeful of sorting the issue and making an imminent return.

“We’re still in conversations with the Tour,” he said at Royal Troon. “I haven’t been able to play any Tour events, so yeah, we’re going to have to sort it out before I want to tee it up hopefully at the Spanish Open.”

The 29-year-old’s last start on the formerly known European Tour came last November at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Before that was a run at a fourth win in his national open, following wins in 2018, 2019 and 2022. It resulted in a T10 finish, however.

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Meanwhile, Rahm was expecting to face a US side lead by Tiger Woods, should he make Luke Donald’s starting lineup next September.

He expressed his initial shock after hearing about Keegan Bradley’s appointment but believes the American will make a ‘fantastic captain’.

“Everything I heard from the Ryder Cup is, okay, Tiger’s the captain.

“I guess you shouldn’t always believe what you hear, but I think my mind was made up. When I heard anybody but Tiger being it, I was like, oh.

“He [Bradley] was definitely a bit of a Captain America figure when he was there, very energetic, had a great partnership with Phil, played really good golf, especially at Medinah.

“I’m not surprised. I think he could be a good captain. Cares deeply about the country. Cares deeply about the Ryder Cup.

“I don’t know if having a Boston native being a captain in New York might be the best thing, but I think they can put their difference aside for that week. I think he can be a fantastic captain.”

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Europe will defend the cup after a resounding victory at Marco Simone last year, where Rahm began to feel a resemblance of his form earlier in the year.

He said he wasn’t ‘at his best’ until the contest rolled around and pointed to a similarity in the first half of 2024.

And after a tough major season so far, Rahm believes a change in fortunes might be just around the corner ahead of this week’s Open.

“[LIV Golf] Nashville and last week, I felt closer to getting to a higher level of golf where maybe there isn’t as many thoughts on my process. Maybe I’m playing a little bit more freely and seeing the ball flight that I want to see more often.

“Yeah, I’m getting much closer to what it might have been early last year.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Tryst Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.