Justin Rose fires Ryder Cup warning to Jon Rahm

Justin Rose would love Jon Rahm to be on Europe’s Ryder Cup team next year – but insists that making Luke Donald’s team is entirely in the Spaniard’s hands.

Two-time major champion Rahm is approaching a critical juncture if he hopes to make the side.

Time is running out for the LIV man to play the four DP World Tour starts required to maintain his membership of the circuit, and, by extension, remain eligible for next year’s Ryder Cup in New York.

The upcoming Spanish Open, taking place from September 26-29, would appear to be one of his most likely opportunities. However, the deadline for entries is September 12 and, as of this week, the three-time champion has yet to commit.

Should he fail to fulfil his quota of four events before the end of the season, Rahm will be ineligible even for one of Donald’s six picks.

Like everybody else, his European teammate Rose is monitoring the situation closely.

The former US Open champion is at Brocket Hall this week for the latest renewal of the Rose Ladies Open, where the field will compete for the biggest prize fund on the Ladies European Tour Access Series this season – a cool €85,000, up from €70,000 a year ago.

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And whilst his focus is firmly on the action in Hertfordshire, he admits to being hopeful Rahm will step up.

“No matter where the world rankings say he is, or, you know, the golf and the players he’s competing against, or how he competes, we know what a great player he is,” said Rose.

“You want him on the team. He was such a massive part of our win in Rome. He played Scottie Scheffler [in the singles] and that half he had there was huge. It kept momentum, kept belief. You want your front-runners to go out there and do the job, and he did that. So yeah, he’s a valuable part of the team.

“From my point of view, there’s a pathway to play the Ryder Cup if he wants it, and I think that’s all the DP World Tour can do. They have their interests to protect, and I still think that it’s a doable situation should the player want to do it enough. That’s my view on it. I think there’s a pathway. And, you know, everyone makes their choices, and I respect everybody’s choice. [But] no-one’s saying you can’t play.”

As for his own prospects of making a seventh appearance in the biennial clash, Rose says he’s not not dwelling on it.

“I’ve never really worried too much about making the team,” he added. “I’ve always thought that to play in the Ryder Cup, you need to be playing well, and if you do make the team, the most important thing is to deliver points.

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“I’ve always just tried to make sure I’m playing well right around the time of the Ryder Cup, and then trust the fact that I’m either wanted in the team, or have earned enough points to be a part of it.”

The recent announcement that Rose will captain the Great Britain & Ireland side to take on the Continent of Europe in January’s edition of the Team Cup has, of course, fuelled speculation that he is being lined up to succeed Luke Donald in the Ryder Cup hot-seat for the 2027 match at Adare Manor.

“First and foremost, I’d love to do the job at some point,” said Rose. “It’s a huge honour and 2027 will certainly be a special Ryder Cup. I think we all know special a place Adare Manor is. We all know JP McManus and his love for the sport, and how much he’s given back to golf and the community as well. So, it’ll be a special event.

“The timing of the Ryder Cup captaincy is something that maybe you don’t have a huge amount of control over, because your opportunity might just happen to come at a certain time, but it’s also very difficult to time it perfectly in your career.

“In 2027, I hope that I am still a strong contender to be playing in the team. I think front and centre is 2025 and we’ll see how it goes there, right? Next year, whether I’m playing the rider cup as a player or if I’m involved in any other capacity, will start to shape what might happen in the future, but until 2025 is done, my head’s going to be down and trying to win some points again.”

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor