Jon Rahm wants to win The Open and says he’d lobby LIV Golf to stage a links event in Ireland the week before the game’s oldest major if it boosted his chances of lifting the Claret Jug.
Irish Open champion at Portstewart in 2018 and Lahinch in 2019, the two-time major winner is desperate to follow in the footsteps of three-time Open champion Seve Ballesteros, who remains the lone Spaniard to win the Claret Jug.
After following his runner up finish behind Brian Harman at Hoylake last year with a tie for seventh at Royal Troon last week, Rahm is trending in the Open having also finished 11th at Royal Portrush in 2019 and tied third at Sandwich in 2021
Asked ahead of this week’s LIV Golf UK event at JCB Golf & Country Club if playing a links event on the Saudi-backed circuit the week before The Open would help, Rahm told Golf Digest: “I would hope so; I’m pushing for it.
“There’s so much that goes into adjusting to links golf; getting used to the greens and the ball reacting on the ground. I didn’t think about it until after [Troon], but it’s undeniable how much it helps to play a links golf course the week before the Open.”
With the Scottish Open scheduled for the week before The Open, Ireland could be a runner for LIV Golf with Trump International Doonbeg an obvious candidate.
“Obviously, LIV management have contracts in place with some venues and plans in the future,” Rahm said of the challenges.
“It’s not as easy as it sounds to just say, ‘Well, let’s do this.’ [But] it’d be something I would like to talk to other players [on LIV] about because that way, there’s strength in numbers if five, six or 10 solid players [all agree]. I think a lot of people might agree with it.”
Rahm is certainly in favour of returning to Ireland after being unable to defend the Irish Open in 2020 due travel difficulties brought about by COVID-19.
“You’re preaching to the choir; I love Ireland,” Rahm told reporter Evin Priest.
“I’ve always felt really welcome in Ireland. It feels like home and some of the most fun rounds of golf I’ve ever played are there and there are some great venues.
“So yeah, if there was an opportunity for LIV Golf to play in Ireland it would be absolutely fantastic.”
He added: “I want to win the Open and a lot of Spanish people want to see me win it because no [Spaniard] since Seve has been able to do it.
“I love links golf and the Open and I’m looking forward to giving myself a better chance.”
