Jon Rahm makes feelings clear on Ryder Cup hopes

Jon Rahm has insisted that European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has offered him no assurances that he’ll be in this year’s team.

The Spaniard has donned the blue and gold at the last three editions of the biennial match, but a move to LIV Golf in 2023 makes his qualifying effort more difficult.

While Rahm ultimately feels he will part of the side at Bethpage in September, he said ahead of the PGA Championship that the decision isn’t in his hands.

“That’s a question for Luke,” the 30-year-old said when asked about potential early conversations with Donald. “It’s his team. Hopefully I can qualify, and we don’t have to question it.

“I would like to think that personally I am, but it’s not up to me.”

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When pressed on the matter, Rahm stated: “You’d have to ask Luke that question. It’s not up to me to say.

“I’m not going to say anything about that, no. Again, that’s a question for Luke, the captain.”

It comes after an indifferent period for Rahm who, despite a T7 finish at The Open, didn’t feel competitive in last year’s major championships and is without a LIV win this season.

His form has prompted criticism of his switch to the Saudi-backed circuit, and whether it will impact his hopes of representing Team Europe again.

One man not buying the concern is vice-captain Edoardo Molinari.

“Jon loves the Ryder Cup so much that he will probably round into form later this summer – I’m pretty sure about that,” the Italian recently told the Sky Sports Golf podcast

“Every year you feel like you have seven or eight guys that are easy to predict, and then you have a couple ones that are way left field. I think it’s going to be the same this time around.

“Hopefully we’ll have all of our top guys in the best form of their life, but one way or the other we’ll have a strong team and one that will be able to put up a fight against a very strong American side.”

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Rahm, meanwhile, reflected on Seve Ballesteros’ Ryder Cup legacy, when he explained the role his countrymen have played in the match.

“When it comes to being the core of the team or the heartbeat of the team, it all starts with Seve,” he said. “We all look to him. I think he was such a unique charisma in the world of golf and sports that I think he set that baseline to — but then Sergio and all the others have followed.

“I wouldn’t know exactly why because we’re all extremely different in character, but if I had to take a guess, it’s possibly the passion we play this game with and the emotion that we bring into it.”

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.