Jon Rahm confirmed this Wednesday in Chicago, where he is going to play the last individual tournament of the LIV Golf season, the information advanced by Ten Golf two weeks ago. There is no agreement with the DP World Tour, he is not going to pay the fines, but he intends to play the Acciona Open of Spain, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the Estrella Damm Andalucía Masters. He could say it louder, but not clearer. “I have no intention of paying the fines. I’m not a big fan of them and we’re talking to the DP World Tour to see how we can do it to play those three tournaments,” he assured. He had never said it in such a forceful way. He had expressed that there were some of those fines with which he did not agree, but he had not said so bluntly that he was not going to pay any fine.
Hatton y Rahm: cómo y por qué podrán jugar en el DPWT (por ahora)
And how is he going to do it? Very simple. As we published in this medium, when the time comes, shortly before the Open of Spain, Jon will file an appeal against the fines and the sanction will be provisionally suspended until a mediation court decides on the matter. While the sanction is suspended, Jon can play the DP World Tour tournaments he wants, exactly the same as has happened with Tyrrell Hatton, who played the British Masters and will also be at the Open of Spain.
Rahm’s presence in Madrid has not yet been confirmed because he has not yet filed the appeal against the fines. He is pushing the deadline to the maximum. The later the appeal arrives, the later the final resolution will arrive and the more time he will have to play other DP World Tour tournaments during the provisional. It is roughly estimated that the judge’s decision could arrive in about 8-10 months, so Jon would have that time to play other DP World Tour tournaments if he wishes, for example the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at the beginning of the year.
Rahm said in his day that he would do everything in his power to play the Open of Spain and the Ryder Cup. Obviously, this did not include paying the fines, at least for now. Beyond wanting to play the Open of Spain for his commitment to Spanish golf, the reality is that Jon needs to play four tournaments in the DP World Tour in 2024 to maintain his membership and thus be able to play the Ryder Cup next year. The first of these four tournaments were the Olympic Games and the other three should be the Open of Spain, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the Estrella Damm Andalucía Masters.
Rahm has revealed that he is already registered to play the Open of Spain and in Sotogrande and that a good friend has asked him to play the Dunhill Links. “I am registered. Another thing is that they let me play. I’m not a fan of fines. I’ve always said it. I have no intention of paying them and we’re talking to the DP World Tour about how we can do it to play those three tournaments. I’m not going to play the Open of Spain for glory or anything like that. I do it because I think it’s my duty and I also want to play in Sotogrande. Not playing those tournaments would not only harm me, but also Spanish golf. We are talking to the European circuit to find a solution. I would also love to play the Dunhill Links because a good friend asked me. The only time I went there I didn’t do very well and I would like to redeem myself. I want to play those three tournaments,” he commented.
Jon is going to play those three tournaments by the route that we have already explained in Ten Golf, with the appeal. What is not so clear is when he will be able to land in Madrid. He has asked to play the Pro Am on Wednesday afternoon, as it is normal for him to arrive very tight due to the birth of his daughter. Today he explained that Kelley’s pregnancy, which went through some difficulties, is now progressing properly and the plan is to induce labor the week after the Dallas team final, that is, the same week of the Open of Spain. That is, the girl would be born on Monday and then Jon would travel to Madrid, with just enough time to play the Pro Am and be ready for the first round on Thursday. However, it is not ruled out that the birth could be advanced. In that case, those plans would have to be altered. She could also be born before the Dallas team final, which is played from September 20 to 22.
