Ryder Cup to make grand return back to Jon Rahm’s home country: Reports
The Ryder Cup is heading back to Jon Rahm's home, as per Ten Golf (via @NUCLRGOLF on X). The golfer is from Spain, where the event is set to be held in 2031. The biennial event shifts locations between somewhere in the US and somewhere in Europe to provide a home-field advantage for one side each time, and it will reportedly shift to Spain in seven years.
Rahm is one of the most notable players for Team Europe. He's been a standout for them for years and has been fighting tooth and nail to remain eligible and qualify for the 2025 Ryder Cup.
He left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf last year, which threw a massive wrench into his Ryder Cup plans. The golfer had outstanding fines for leaving, but he appealed them and has been able to push his way into several DP World Tour tournaments.
As a result, the 29-year-old is on track to be able to play for Luke Donald's side in 2025. The PIF merger is still up in the air, so it's unclear how that will impact the next and all future Cups.
Additionally, it is unclear if Rahm will be able to play when the tournament returns to his home. That is seven years from now, meaning Rahm will be 36 years old. That's far from retirement age for golfers, but there's no telling where his game will be then.
Depending on how the merger goes, it's not out of the realm of possibility that he's a captain or vice-captain. Rahm, assuming he's not barred for playing on LIV Golf, will likely have a role with Team Europe most years.
Luke Donald addresses Jon Rahm's Ryder Cup eligibility
If Jon Rahm continues on this trajectory, he will likely automatically qualify for the Ryder Cup next year. Even if he doesn't, it would be hard to envision Luke Donald not selecting him if he were eligible.
That's the key, though. Donald revealed he'd had many conversations with Jon Rahm, saying that the golfer knows what the deal is. Via Golf Digest, he said in September:
“He knew when he signed for LIV what the policies were on the DP World Tour. He has to play four events in a season to be eligible. And he can pay the fines, or he can appeal like some of the guys have. It's really up to him to do that.
"I hope very much that he does and becomes eligible. He certainly mentioned at the PGA Championship he was willing to do whatever it took to commit to me and the team.”
Donald would like to see Rahm eligible, but that all remains up to the golfer and the DP World Tour for now.