Jon Rahm wants to play the Spanish Open. He could say it louder, but not clearer. However, as of today he cannot guarantee his presence at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid in the last week of September. The explanation is very simple: the birth of his third child is scheduled for that week and for the golfer from Barrika it is a priority matter.
Thus, beyond his negotiations with the European Circuit regarding sanctions, Rahm’s calendar in Europe in autumn is pending what may happen with the arrival of his third offspring. In fact, right now all options could be given. He can only play the Spanish Open, he could only play the Estrella Damm Andalucía Masters at the Real Club de Golf de Sotogrande, he could not play any or he could play both. Yes, even, he has opened the possibility of playing both, which would be excellent news for golf fans in Spain, as we would have the US Open and Masters champion in three different weeks: Valderrama with the LIV Golf in July, Madrid and Sotogrande.
Rahm made it very clear today in Valhalla that he will not travel to Spain unless the child has been born. “If Kelley has not given birth I will not come to Madrid. It’s just that I’m too far away to be able to return and arrive in time for the birth. It is scheduled for the last week of September or the first of October. We are in the hands of mother nature and of the mother herself, Kelley, we will see what happens”, he assures.
Be that as it may, Rahm assures that he has the firm purpose of playing the minimum of four tournaments required by the DP World Tour to remain a member. In fact, he has some ideas in his head. He does not rule out, as we say, playing both in Spain if the child is kind enough to advance several days. Another tournament he values playing would be the French Open and he also has on the table the possibility of appearing in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, a tournament where he only participated once and of which he does not have the best memory.
Another option would be to play the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, a tournament where he has played well and where he feels comfortable, but the dates fit badly with his paternity, as it is held from September 19 to 22, in the run-up to the birth. Therefore, if the child arrived that week, he could even play four weeks in a row in Madrid, Dunhill, France and Sotogrande, a mini European tour.
Similarly, we should not rule out that, if he does well in the Majors and adds enough points to qualify for the Race to Dubai, we will see Jon Rahm in the last two tournaments of the year of the European Circuit, in Abu Dhabi, a Rolex Series, and in the Dubai Final. From those six tournaments should come the four where Rahm wants to play to comply with the Tour regulations.
