Jon Rahm believes golf could reach incredible new heights, even after all the drama that’s rocked the sport lately. The Spanish superstar shared his thoughts Tuesday about where things need to go from here.
“I think we’re living in a golden era right now for golf where the possibilities are endless,” Rahm said.
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He should know. As LIV Golf’s biggest catch of 2023, Rahm shocked the golf world by jumping ship from the PGA Tour last winter. The move came just months after the Tour announced its bombshell deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
But progress on that deal? It’s been slower than a three-putt on Augusta’s greens.
“I thought things would be further along at this point,” Rahm admitted in Dubai, where he’s playing this week’s Desert Classic.
The former world number one has dropped to No. 31 in the rankings since joining LIV – a situation he calls “unfair.” While his 2023 Masters win keeps him set for majors, he’s worried about other LIV players getting locked out of golf’s biggest events.
“To not give LIV world ranking points and the credibility it deserves, I think is wrong,” he said. “There should be a way for us to qualify.”
Then there’s the Ryder Cup question.
Rahm’s still eligible for Team Europe this year, having played enough DP World Tour events. But he’s appealing some fines for playing LIV tournaments, and he’s hoping that drama won’t interfere with September’s matches at Bethpage.
“I don’t think that would be good for anybody,” he said about possibly having his appeal heard before the Ryder Cup. “But my plan is to be at Bethpage.”
This week marks Rahm’s first crack at the Dubai Desert Classic, though he’s won three times before in Dubai. He’ll tee it up alongside Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland before heading to Saudi Arabia for LIV’s season opener on February 6.
Despite all the uncertainty, Rahm stays optimistic. “With the right minds put together,” he said, “you can end up with a product that could put golf at a different level in the world of sport.”
