Luke Donald was reportedly reluctant to commit sooner to being European Ryder Cup captain for a third time because he wanted the row surrounding Jon Rahm to be resolved.
Rahm is currently involved in a standoff with the DP World Tour over the fines he has accrued since signing with LIV Golf in December 2023.
While eight LIV players recently agreed a deal with those at Wentworth that will allow them to play on both tours this year, Rahm dug his heels in.
Jon Rahm involved with a standoff with the DP World Tour
The Spaniard expressed his frustration at being asked to play in six events, including two that would be decided by the DP World Tour.
The 31-year-old conveniently forgot that he has no say over the LIV Golf schedule each year.
It seems that the stalemate had an impact on Europe’s preparations for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.
Speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Rex Hoggard suggested that Luke Donald would have signed up for a third term a lot sooner had the DP World Tour found common ground with Rahm.
“My understanding is Luke Donald was a little slow to come back for a third term as a Ryder Cup captain because he wanted this issue resolved. He didn’t want to have this on his plate,” he said.
“The DP World Tour at least went to Luke in good faith and said, ‘we tried. We tried to fix this and Jon Rahm turned us down’. I would be curious right now if you’re Luke Donald and everyone else in that team room who’s planning for next year in Ireland, you would love to have Jon Rahm on that team. I don’t know if he’s a lynchpin at this point. He’s important to that team. I don’t think he’s going to make a difference in if they win or lose though.”
Luke Donald’s appointment makes Jon Rahm playing at the 2027 Ryder Cup seem much more likely
Donald’s appointment surely makes Rahm being a part of the European team in 2027 much more likely. The rules over qualification were changed following his move to LIV Golf in 2023.
As Hoggard suggests, history tells us that Europe will probably win whether they have the two-time major champion or not. Team USA have not won the Ryder Cup across the Atlantic in Rahm’s lifetime.
However, Europe’s victory at Bethpage was built on continuity. The team included 11 of the same players who had won two years earlier in 2023, while the only new face had been part of the backroom team in Rome anyway.
There appears to be a determination to build the kind of dynasty the Ryder Cup has not seen before. And taking Rahm away from that would leave a huge void, even if they are still able to get across the line on the course.
Donald will surely want Rahm to play a starring role at Adare Manor. This lingering uncertainty only helps Team USA.
