The only possible way for Jon Rahm to qualify for the Ryder Cup is through the DP World Tour. However, after spending the first eight months on LIV Golf, the Spaniard did not have much time in his busy schedule to play the Ryder Cup points-acquiring events in Europe. But he teed up at the Summer Olympics at Le Golf National, which marked his first event on the European circuit. For Rahm to meet the DP World Tour membership qualification, he must play three more.
Thus, the 2-time major winner also participated at the Open de Espana, which he lost against fellow Spanish pro, Angel Hidalgo, in a playoff. Then, he was also a part of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship held at the Old Course in Scotland. There he finished T7; now the European Tour will be heading back to the LIV Golf Pro’s home country; will he be in the field again? Fortunately, yes. To meet the four event criteria, Rahm will play in the Estrella Damm Andalucía Masters starting on October 17th at the Andalucía Masters at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande.
The event has 1,500 Ryder Cup points for the winner, and this might be the best opportunity for the 29-year-old to show he can win on the DP World Tour and secure the 2025 Ryder Cup seat. But that’s not the only reason he wanted to play the two Spanish events, it’s so much more.
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Rahm said, “I’ve said many times, I don’t go to the Spanish Open for the glory or anything else. I think it’s my duty to Spanish golf to be there, and I also want to play in Sotogrande [at the Andalucia Masters].” It’s more about honoring his Spanish roots and growing the game in his home country.
Paris 2024 Olympics – Golf – Men’s Round 1 – Le Golf National, Guyancourt, France – August 01, 2024. Jon Rahm of Spain in action. REUTERS/Matthew ChildsOther than Rahm, two more LIV Golf pros will be teeing up at the Andalucia Masters; David Puig and Eugenio Chacarra will be teeing up in Sotogrande too. Unlike these players, Sergio Garcia cannot play in any DP World Tour because he currently doesn’t have a membership on the Tour, as he left for LIV in 2022 and resigned from DPWT in 2023.
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Can Jon Rahm's dedication to Spanish golf secure him a Ryder Cup spot, or is it too late?
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Nonetheless, the golf world will be delighted to see Rahm teeing on the DP World Tour more than he used to do in the past years. But as his 4-event criteria will be completed, will the 2-time major winner participate in another event of the European circuit?
When will Jon Rahm tee up on the DP World Tour again?
In mid-September, Jon Rahm and his Legion XII teammate, Tyrrell Hatton, appealed the millions of fines sanctioned against them to alleviate the chance of playing on the DP World Tour. That loophole worked out, as until the verdict on the appeal is passed, both can play in any event they qualify for. Thus, there are two more events on the DP World Tour that Rahm may play in before 2024 ends.
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Although the Spaniard has played in fewer events in the 2024 season on the European side, he still is ranked 40th on the Race to Dubai Standings. The standings will make or break the 29-year-old’s chance of playing in the DP World Tour playoffs, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, and the DP World Tour Championship in the UAE.
The top 70 players on the rankings after the ‘Back 9’ concludes will make it to the first playoff event in Abu Dhabi, where 9,000 Race to Dubai points will be given, and then the top 50 players on the standings will make it to the ultimate championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates. To mark his appearance at these two events, Rahm will have to play his best game or he may lose out to end the 2024 season with the European Tour.
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Can Jon Rahm's dedication to Spanish golf secure him a Ryder Cup spot, or is it too late?