It’s fair to say that Jon Rahm is one of the very best players on the planet, despite the fact that the LIV Golf star is currently ranked outside the top 70.
Rahm is an absolute powerhouse in the game and the LIV golfer proved he is still very much a box-office talent during the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black last month.
The 30-year-old Spaniard has experienced a challenging 2025 season, after ending the year without a win for the first time since he turned pro.
Rahm was frustrated throughout the Spanish Open, in spite of securing yet another top-10 finish.
Still, his remarkable consistency on LIV this season deserves some praise, after he finished outside the top-10 only once all year long.
Rahm also played a key role in Europe’s special Ryder Cup win at Bethpage Black last month.
But it seems that he is done playing competitively for the year now.
Jon Rahm’s decision will harm his chances of winning The Masters in 2026
Rahm’s main objective in 2026 will be to win a major championship again.
His last victory in a major came at The Masters in 2023, so by the time Augusta National rolls around in April, it will have been three years since he won a major championship.
However, it seems like Rahm has made a big decision which will undoubtedly harm his chances of achieving success at The Masters in 2026.
When speaking to Ten Golf, Rahm admitted that he most likely won’t play again now until February, when the new season on LIV gets underway.
“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 the two-time major winner really doesn’t play again competitively until February, he will surely be undercooked for the year’s first major in April.
Professional golfers obviously need a break from the game every once in a while, in order to spend time with their families.
However, if Rahm doesn’t return to action until February, that means he will have had four months away from competitive golf.
And that lack of match sharpness, so to speak, could end up being detrimental to the LIV star’s hopes of achieving success at the majors in 2026.
Why Jon Rahm could be ineligible to play in the 2027 Ryder Cup
Everything is up in the air right now when it comes to what the future may hold for professional golf.
The inception of LIV Golf back in 2022 shook the game to its very core and some players are still feeling the effects of the fallout from that now.
One of those players is Rahm and there is a genuine chance he may not be at Adare Manor for the Ryder Cup in 2027.
Rahm’s fate will depend heavily on the outcome of his appeal against DP World Tour sanctions for playing on the LIV Golf league.
If he loses his appeal, he will have to pay enormous fines in order to be allowed to play on the DP World Tour again and retain his eligibility for Ryder Cup selection.
The concerning thing for European Ryder Cup fans is that Rahm has previously insisted that he has absolutely no intention to pay any fines thrown his way (BBC).
So if the Spaniard’s appeal doesn’t go to plan, there’s a good chance he will not play at Adare Manor in two years’ time, unless the DP World Tour move the goalposts which is, of course, very possible.
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