MADRID, 11 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Spanish golfer Jon Rahm recalled on Wednesday that he signed up for the Acciona Open de España presented by Madrid “a long time ago”, but that “it’s another thing” whether he is finally allowed to play or not, in the wake of the ongoing controversy between the DP World Tour tournaments and those of the LIV Golf circuit.
“In terms of golf, I’ve probably been close to what I did at the beginning of the year last year. But I’d still say I’m a little bit behind,” Rahm said of his form during a press conference in Chicago (USA).
“I intend to play in Spain,” he said before reminding that the official presentation of the Spanish Open will be this Thursday. “At midday… Well, I have already signed up for the tournament. I signed up a long time ago, whether they let me play or not… is another thing,” lamented the player from Barrika.
“I’m not a big fan of fines. I think I’ve been upfront about that. I have no intention of paying the fines and we’re still trying to have a conversation with them about how we can make that happen,” he said of his participation in the Spanish Open.
The tournament will be held from 26 to 29 September at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid. “I have said it many times: I am not going to the Spanish Open for glory or for anything in the world. I think it is my duty to Spanish golf to be there and I also want to play in Sotogrande,” he warned.
“At this point, not letting me play would be almost a disservice not only to me, but also to Spanish golf. So that’s why we’re trying to talk to them and get that to happen. I would also love to play at the Dunhill,” he said of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which will be held from 3 to 6 October at St Andrews.
“I have a good friend who has asked me to play and Johann [Rupert] “He’s been a great ambassador for golf. I’d love to be able to play in all those events,” Rahm said, before listing his upcoming events on his calendar if all goes well.
“Sotogrande is the city next to Valderrama, so I think that’s the name of the Andalucía Open or Masters. And yes, I would go to Madrid, to the Open de España, to Dunhill, a week off and Sotogrande, and I want to play them all. I think I could participate in both events,” he said. “That’s my intention,” he finally reiterated.