Rahm doesn’t want to miss Ryder Cup

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Jon Rahm hopes to play in subsequent yr’s Ryder Cup and future PGA Tour occasions regardless of leaping to LIV Golf, although his transfer has not hastened a merger deal.

The reigning Masters champion spoke on Tuesday forward of defending his crown at Augusta Nationwide, giving perception into his transfer to the Saudi-backed collection final December that reportedly was price $350-million.

“It’s a little bit of a detour on my path,” Rahm mentioned. “However change may be higher.”

Rahm mentioned he hoped switching to LIV would assist full merger talks that started with a framework settlement final June between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund (PIF), however these negotiations burned previous a December deadline and stay deadlocked.

“I understood my place,” Rahm mentioned. “It might be, what I hoped, a step in the direction of extra of an expedited settlement. However, sadly, it’s lower than me.

“I might hope it will be one thing that will assist expedite that course of. However on the finish of the day, I nonetheless did what I assumed was greatest for myself.”

It got here, nevertheless, at a price. It might imply Rahm, who helped Europe seize the Ryder Cup in Rome final yr, gained’t be capable to play within the 2025 occasion at Bethpage.

“Am I involved? Yeah, I hope I may be there,” Rahm mentioned. “I hope I play nicely sufficient to earn my method there. And if I’ve to be picked, I hope I can get picked.

“I wish to be there. That’s undoubtedly one thing I wish to do and I don’t wish to miss.”

Third-ranked Rahm admits lacking being unable to play at some PGA Tour venues and in opposition to previous rivals.

“There are some venues I miss not being at,” Rahm mentioned. “Not being at Palm Springs, Torrey, Phoenix and LA wasn’t the simplest. These are venues I completely love.

“I nonetheless love the PGA Tour and I nonetheless hope that sooner or later I can compete there once more.”

That might require a merger and a method again for individuals who jilted the PGA.

“There are lots of people lots smarter than me that might determine this out,” Rahm mentioned.

The 29-year-old Spaniard says it takes the identical ability and keenness to win on LIV because it does on the PGA, though Rahm has but to win a LIV occasion.

“The competitors remains to be there,” Rahm mentioned. “Yeah, they’re smaller fields, however you continue to should beat a few of the greatest gamers on the earth and you continue to should play on the similar stage you must play on the PGA Tour to win these occasions, in order that doesn’t change.”

LIV tournaments are 54 holes, use shotgun begins and have a crew ingredient that Rahm mentioned he enjoys.

“I perceive there’s much less folks. I perceive the crew format is slightly totally different. I perceive we’re going shotgun and issues are slightly bit totally different to how they’re in a PGA Tour occasion,” Rahm mentioned.

“However the strain is there. I wish to win as unhealthy as I needed to win earlier than I moved on to LIV.

“Happening the stretch while you’re in rivalry is the very same emotions. That basically doesn’t change. Profitable is profitable and that’s what issues.”

He hasn’t performed as many rounds as prior seasons heading into The Masters, however doesn’t anticipate that to pose an issue to his title bid.

“You’re saying enjoying slightly bit much less is a nasty factor, which I wouldn’t assume it’s,” Rahm mentioned. “Primarily based on how I really feel on a Tuesday, I really feel bodily higher than I did final yr.

“However then as soon as competitors begins, it doesn’t actually matter. As soon as the gun goes off, no matter you are feeling is out the window. You bought to go on the market and put up a rating.”