As we all recently got to know, Sergio Garcia’s decision to join LIV Golf in 2022 and renounce his DP World Tour membership in 2023 has put his Ryder Cup captaincy dreams in jeopardy. And it’s likely that he, along with fellow Europeans Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, will be taken out from any leadership roles for the European team. But why? Well, the DP World Tour has a rule that states players can’t be a European Ryder Cup captain or vice-captain if they decline membership or fail to meet their minimum event obligation, and while Garcia has paid over 1 million euros in fines and rejoined the DP World Tour to be eligible for the 2025 Ryder Cup, it’s unclear if this will be enough.

In a press conference at the Hero Desert Classic Open, Jon Rahm also chimed in with his own opinions and frankly sang Garcia’s praises as he tried to justify why the Spanish star still deserves a spot on the European team. Rahm’s comments came after Garcia expressed his desire to still be part of the Ryder Cup when he had said “I feel like I can still bring a lot to the team… I’ve been playing well, and I feel like I can still make a difference.” Rahm echoed this sentiment, saying “Sergio Garcia can hit it tee-to-green better than anybody on the planet. It’s that simple. He’s still that good and he’s still very valuable.”

Rahm’s vehement plea for Sergio Garcia’s inclusion on the European team really drives home the point that Garcia’s still got it, despite all the controversy surrounding his LIV Golf membership. And well, it is true as the golfer has got an incredible Ryder Cup record and he’s still playing some amazing golf, with a LIV event win in Spain and three runner-up finishes in 2024. Rahm’s clearly a big fan and he’s convinced that Garcia’s Ryder Cup future is all but certain. “I believe that there’s a place for Sergio in there.”

“I think there will be a place for Sergio on the Ryder Cup any given time. It’s just a matter of time now is letting the clubs do the talking”, Rahm continued. As the golf world gears up for the Ryder Cup and we wait for the controversies surrounding Garica to cool down, Rahm is speaking out on his chances of making the team.

Jon Rahm hopes appeal won’t affect Ryder Cup chances

Jon Rahm is keeping his fingers crossed that his appeal against the fines imposed for playing LIV Golf events without permission won’t be heard before the Ryder Cup. The fines were handed down by the DP World Tour as a result of Rahm and several other players, including Tyrrell Hatton and Adrian Meronk, competing in LIV Golf tournaments despite not having the required releases. Rahm, along with the other players, has appealed against the monetary sanctions, which means they can still play enough DP World Tour events to retain their membership and be eligible for the Ryder Cup in September.

Rahm admitted that he’s hoping the appeal won’t be settled before the Ryder Cup, saying “I don’t think that would be good for anybody.” This uncertainty surrounding his appeal hasn’t stopped Rahm from focusing on his game, and he’s clearly eager to make a strong case for his Ryder Cup inclusion as he aims to ensure his place on the team without any last-minute disruptions. What do you think will happen? Let us know in the comment section below!