Luke Donald gives verdict on Jon Rahm’s 2027 Ryder Cup hopes amid Spaniard’s dispute with DP World Tour
Luke Donald is setting his sights on an unprecedented third consecutive Ryder Cup victory as captain, a feat unmatched in the tournament’s history.
However, his aspirations for the 2027 event in Ireland are already shadowed by uncertainty surrounding the availability of star player Jon Rahm, who remains embroiled in a significant dispute with the DP World Tour.
The Spanish two-time major winner is currently at loggerheads with the tour over sanctions imposed for his participation in LIV Golf events without the requisite permissions.
Rahm reportedly faces fines exceeding £2 million, a sum he is appealing. This appeal process, which saw delays allowing him to compete in September’s triumphant outing in New York, has intensified, with Rahm on Tuesday labelling the situation as “extortion”.
Despite the ongoing friction, Donald, who recently committed to a third straight stint as captain, expressed his desire to have Rahm in his team.
“It’s the first day on the job so I haven’t talked to him yet but obviously I will talk to Jon,” Donald stated.
“I don’t really want to comment as I know he has his own reasons but I look forward to catching up with him and I really hope he is available.”
Guy Kinnings, chief executive of the European Tour group, clarified the tour’s position, explaining that Rahm’s refusal to settle leaves him with two clear paths.
“It is pretty straightforward: either he withdraws the appeal and settles fines, or he goes to the appeal process – and that is underway – and then go with whatever decision is made in that hearing,” Kinnings said.
Donald’s quest for a third successive win would place him in a unique position, surpassing the achievements of legendary USA captains Walter Hagen and Ben Hogan, who led their teams to four and three Ryder Cup victories respectively, but never three in a row.
The former world number one admitted to carefully weighing the “pros and cons” of taking on the captaincy again, ultimately deciding with the support of his family and team-mates.
He acknowledged the inherent risk of returning to a winning formula.
“I accomplished a great deal with Rome and New York and you obviously do question the possibility of losing if you go again,” he added.
“Winning and losing is not something you can control. You can give yourself an edge but you have those thoughts ‘What if this doesn’t go right and we are the (first) team to lose at home in 34 years – does that taint anything?’
“But when you come to the pros there were many more than there were cons and ultimately that is why I am sitting here.”
While speculation mounts regarding Tiger Woods potentially captaining the USA team for the 2027 event, Donald remained tight-lipped on his future opposite number.
“It is a little bit hard to comment on something that hasn’t happened yet,” he remarked.
“Tiger’s name was floated two years ago and Keegan ended up being captain so it’s hard to make those guesses. Tiger moves the needle in the game still. Whoever the captain is doesn’t really change my role.
“My role is to formulate a plan to give our team the best opportunity and what the US are doing is kind of inconsequential to that. I look forward to whoever it is.”
