This year Jon Rahm has been able and willing to bring forward his return to competition, which is why this week he is participating in one of the most powerful tournaments on the DP World Tour, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. The Dubai event is a classic on the calendar that has already been won by the Spaniards Severiano Ballesteros (1992), Chema Olazábal (1998), Miguel Ángel Jiménez (2010), Álvaro Quirós (2011), Rafa Cabrera-Bello (2012) and Sergio García ( 2017). Rory McIlroy – four times winner – defends the title and the ‘field’ is first class, with names like Hovland, Fleetwood, Nicolai Hojgaard, Hatton, MacIntyre, Bathia, Scott, Reed…
The fact that ‘Rahmbo’ – and other LIV players – appealed the sanctions imposed on him by the DPWT meant that his situation was frozen while it was resolved. In this way he was able to return to a circuit of which he was always a member for last year’s Spanish Open. The situation remains the same, so it has included the Desert Classic in its calendar with the aim of starting the season earlier than last year. By the way, it adds up to the Ryder. He has not competed since the Andalucía Masters in October 2024 and the idea is to get more into the Masters. Counting this event, the ‘Lion of Barrika’ will play six tournaments before going for his second green jacket – in 2023 there were eight – which is already more than in 2024.
My appeal? I hope they don’t try to resolve it before the Ryder Cup. I don’t think that’s good for anyone.
JON RAHM
Jon’s press appearance in Dubai, a city where he has won the DPWT Tour Championship three times, has attracted a lot of attention. The Basque golfer has touched on many topics. One could start precisely with his appeal, a case which he believes will still drag on: “I don’t know what’s going to happen and I hope they don’t try to resolve the appeal before the Ryder Cup. I don’t think that’s good for anyone. But my plan is to be on the Bethpage team,” he noted.
The Biscayan got involved in everything that was asked of him, as if he felt frustrated by the fact that LIV Golf does not award world ranking points. Jon explained: “Since I had the first conversations with the LIV they told me that they were not going to raise this issue in the negotiations. I think that in this scenario, not giving world ranking points and the credibility that the LIV deserves is a mistake.” The Spaniard clarified: “I understand that we have all made a decision and it is not as easy as it seems, but to say that some LIV players do not deserve a place in the ‘majors’ I think is a mistake and I hope it is changed to how this should be be […] There should be a way to classify us.
To say that some LIV players do not deserve a place in the ‘majors’ I think is a mistake […] There should be a way to classify us
JON RAHM
After the birth of the TGL and the boost that all the circuits have undergone, Rahm considers: “We are living in a golden age for golf in which the possibilities are endless.” In this sense, he also expressed: “I believe that if you put the right minds together, you can create a product, and I have been saying this from the beginning, that could put golf on a different level in the world of sports.”
If the right minds come together they can create a product that could put golf on a different level in the world of sports.
JON RAHM
Sergio García at Ryder 2025?
The possible presence of Sergio García in the Ryder also came to the fore. Is Borriol still among the 12 best in Europe? “Yes,” replied the ‘Léon de Barrika’, who added: “For people who see him on any given day, Sergio García can hit the green better than anyone on the planet. It’s that simple. He’s still that good and is still very valuable,” he said. The Basque golfer, however, stressed: “I would love to see him in the team locker room, but who knows what will happen. I also understand that we did an incredible job in the last Ryder Cup, with a newer team, which came together and “He played like he did. I hope and believe there is a place for Sergio.”
For people who see him on any given day, Sergio García can hit the green better than anyone on the planet. It’s that simple
JON RAHM
Finally, on whether LIV Golf would be a good environment for Irishman Tom McKibbin, a player who has been linked to his Legion XIII team, Rahm said: “I can’t say what is a good and bad environment for Tom. I think that It’s an answer for him. I think it’s an environment. [el LIV Golf] as good as any other, actually. It is as competitive as almost any other circuit. You have to go out and play against some of the best players in the world, so yes, it’s an environment where you can grow very quickly as well. “He is a fantastic player and the possibilities for him are endless whatever his decision.”
