Jon Rahm has expressed his excitement at the confirmation that the Ryder Cup in 2031 will be held in Spain. The Basque golfer, one of the key figures of the continental team in recent editions, spoke to the media ahead of the LIV Golf United Kingdom and couldn’t hide his excitement at the idea of playing the most important team golf event at home.
“It would be absolutely incredible. I don’t think I can put it into words,” Rahm confessed, recalling the intensity with which he experienced the editions in Paris and Rome. “Thinking about playing a Ryder in Spain, with that atmosphere and connection with the fans, would be a dream come true. If in the two editions I’ve played in Europe the connection with the public was amazing, I can’t imagine playing at home.”
Regarding the possibility of being captain on that occasion, Jon is clear: “I hope not to be captain in 2031, that would mean I’m no longer playing. I would be the youngest captain in the history of the European team!” he said with a laugh.
The conversation naturally turned to the name of Sergio García, another historical figure in Spanish golf. Rahm did not hesitate to praise the Borriol native and suggest him as an ideal candidate to lead the team in such a special edition: “Sergio could perfectly be the captain. He would do wonders with the Spanish crowd. If history teaches us anything, it’s that having a local captain can make a difference.”
Rahm recalled the 1997 edition, when Seve Ballesteros captained the European team at Valderrama, as an unforgettable precedent. “Then there were only four Spaniards involved: Seve as captain, Miguel Ángel Jiménez as vice-captain, and José María Olazábal and Nacho Garrido as players. Very few can say they’ve experienced a Ryder Cup in their country. I would love to be part of that history,” he assured.
Jon also spoke about the added excitement and pressure that scenario would entail: “Playing a Ryder in Spain would be indescribable, but it also carries a great responsibility. Even so, it would be one of the greatest experiences of my life.”
Beyond the Ryder, Rahm was asked about the current world ranking system, a topic he has long expressed disagreement with. “Even before joining LIV, I thought it was an imperfect system. The fact that it works on a two-year cycle means that a few bad weeks can weigh you down for a long time. It doesn’t accurately reflect the real level of play.”
According to the Basque, alternative tools like Data Golf and rankings based on strokes gained offer a much more accurate picture of players’ performance:
“Those rankings better reflect who is really playing well. They are more current, more sensitive to form. In my opinion, they should carry more weight.”
He was also questioned about the possibility of opening his own YouTube channel, as other players like Bryson DeChambeau have done. “I’ve thought about it. I’ve talked to Bryson, Phil Mickelson, Grant Horvat, Wesley Bryan… A lot of people encourage me to do it. And the truth is, I like it, I enjoy recording, showing other facets. But right now I don’t have the time,” he admitted.
Rahm, father of three young children, explained that he is not willing to sacrifice either training time or family time for a digital project: “I can’t balance family, golf, and YouTube. There are two things I’m not willing to sacrifice. In my case, the channel will have to wait. I’m happy to collaborate with others and reach new audiences. But I don’t yet see myself with enough energy to manage my own channel.”
