A few minutes after finishing the fourth round of the US Open Championship, Jon Rahm provided a preview of what his schedule on the DP World Tour might look like for the rest of the year. He did so in front of the microphones of Ten Golf and Movistar, the only Spanish media outlets present in Oakmont.
The golfer from Barrika confirmed one hundred percent that he plans to play the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and the Open de España. Additionally, he hinted that there were many chances of seeing him again at the Final in Dubai in Jumeirah after his absence last year. It is not absolutely confirmed, but it is very likely.
The inclusion of the DP World Tour Championship (known as the Final in Dubai) is not unusual in Jon’s schedule. In fact, he has played it five times (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023) and his stellar record includes three victories, a fourth place, and a fifth. He feels very comfortable, not only on the Earth course, obviously, but also in the city itself.
Beyond the fact that he really likes the course and his performance has been extraordinary, one of the reasons Rahm has regularly attended the Final in Dubai has been to win the Race to Dubai. In fact, last year, during his debut in LIV Golf, he decided not to play the DP World Tour Championship precisely because he had no mathematical chance of winning the ranking. At least, that’s what he said at the time. Also, let’s remember, there were some disagreements with the tour due to fines imposed on him for playing in LIV during weeks when there were also DP World Tour tournaments.
However, this year his approach has slightly changed. He sees the Final in Dubai differently. Although his presence in the emirate cannot yet be guaranteed, among other issues because he has to qualify, he is considering playing the tournament even if he has no mathematical chance of winning the Race to Dubai.
The truth is that Jon has always found it very difficult to win the European circuit ranking because he has played few tournaments, first when he was on the PGA Tour as his main circuit and later in LIV. He has to perform very well in his limited appearances to give himself a chance. Even so, he won it in 2019 and has finished third in four other seasons.
This year, for example, after playing four tournaments counting towards the Race to Dubai, the three Majors and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, he is in 40th place. He has climbed 39 positions with his seventh place in the US Open. That is, right now he would be in, as the top 50 in the ranking play it. Even so, to remain in the top 50 at the end of the season, he will have to perform very well in the weeks he plays that count for Europe, that is, the Open Championship, Wentworth, and the Open de España. He has three bullets ahead.
Another possibility would be that, in addition to the Final in Dubai, Jon decides to play the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the tournament preceding the Final, which is played on Yas Island, although as of today, that idea does not appeal to him at all.
The other goal he has ahead is to try to qualify on his own merits for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage. This is even more complicated. Right now, he is in 17th place in the ranking, more than 500 points behind Rasmus Hojgaard, the golfer occupying the sixth and final direct entry spot in the Ryder. The problem is not so much those 500 points as the fact that Jon is only going to play one tournament that awards Ryder points. It is the Open Championship at Royal Portrush. The winner of the Open receives 835 Ryder Cup points, so he would only have a chance if he wins, and it would not be certain. Not even finishing second alone would suffice, as it awards 555 points. Both Wentworth and the Open de España are played after the team cut-off. The last tournament that counts is the British Masters which ends on August 24.
Obviously, even if Jon does not qualify by points for Bethpage, he would still have the possibility of being included in one of the six invitations at the disposal of captain Luke Donald. At the moment, there is practically no one who does not consider his presence in New York assured in one way or another.
