Jon Rahm’s current world ranking might not reflect his true ability, but there’s no doubt he remains one of the top players in golf.
The LIV star hasn’t lost any of his presence, as we saw during last month’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, where he was a clear draw for fans.
This season hasn’t been smooth sailing for him. It was the first time since turning pro that he went through a calendar year without a win.
Even with a top-10 finish, the Spanish Open wasn’t without its frustrations for Rahm, who showed visible signs of disappointment throughout the event.
Despite that, his form on LIV remained steady. He finished outside the top 10 just once across the entire season, showing consistency even if wins were hard to come by.
Rahm played an important part in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory at Bethpage Black last month. But after that eventful stretch, it looks like he might be stepping away from competitive play for a while.
The World No.79 recently caught up with Ten Golf, where he explained that rest is more important than returning to competitive action right now:
After what has been an up-and-down year filled with pressure and expectations, it seems like Rahm is ready to hit pause and focus on getting back to where he wants to be in 2026.
Jon Rahm’s break from golf might cost him at the 2026 Masters
Rahm’s main goal in 2026 is to get back to winning major championships. It’s been three years since he last did that, lifting The Masters trophy in 2023.
He told Ten Golf that he likely won’t return until February when the new LIV season kicks off, and that long layoff could leave him short of sharpness heading into Augusta in April.
The Spaniard said: “The European circuit invites us to the Dubai final as members of the Ryder team, so I’ll see, although I probably won’t go. I’ve never had such a long break as happens in other sports and I’m looking forward to being with the family.”
If he does wait until February to tee it up again, Rahm will have been away from competitive golf for around four months.
Time away from the game can be important for rest and family reasons, but it might also come at a cost. Without enough tournament reps before The Masters, Rahm could find himself lacking the sharpness needed to compete at his best when April rolls around.
The road ahead: Jon Rahm’s path back to Ryder Cup eligibility
The future of professional golf remains uncertain after LIV Golf shook up the sport back in 2022. Even now, some players are still feeling those effects.
Rahm is one of them. There’s still no guarantee he’ll be part of Europe’s plans for Adare Manor in 2027.
A lot depends on how his appeal goes against DP World Tour sanctions related to his move to LIV Golf. If he loses that appeal, substantial fines could stand between him and a return to eligibility.
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He has previously made it clear — via BBC reporting — that he isn’t interested in paying any fines handed down by the DP World Tour.
Unless there are changes made by tour officials or an unexpected outcome from his appeal, we may not see Rahm at Adare Manor. But with how quickly things can shift in golf politics, nothing is ever truly set in stone this far out.
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