Rahm Joins McIlroy In Doubting European Tour Return

The World No.1 doesn't see himself playing in Europe this year due to Covid-19

Rahm Joins McIlroy In Doubting European Tour Return
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The World No.1 doesn't see himself playing in Europe this year due to Covid-19

Rahm Joins McIlroy In Doubting European Tour Return

Jon Rahm has joined Rory McIlroy in revealing that he may remain in the US for the remainder of the year.

The World No.1 would have defended the Irish Open this year as well as the DP World Tour Championship.

He would have likely played in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth too, where he was runner-up last year.

He is also the defending Spanish Open champion but that is currently not on the schedule.

However, in a blow to the European Tour it seems as if he may remain Stateside for safety reasons.

The Spaniard also likes the idea of playing in the lucrative CJ Cup in October, which is rumoured to be taking place in Las Vegas as opposed to South Korea due to Covid-19.

"I think it's going to be something I'm going to think about after the US Open and see how the Covid guidelines are around the world. That's going to be my first concern, right, how safe it's going to be and how things are going to be run," Rahm said ahead of this week's Northern Trust.

"I don't know my plans yet. I really don't. You know, with the rumours of CJ happening on US soil; that's very enticing to me because from what I heard, it might happen in Vegas: I live in Phoenix; a short flight; a tournament I wanted to play, and it wouldn't be bad to get some FedExCup points before showing up in Maui and being already a thousand points behind.

"Hopefully if I can, I will. Right now, I just don't see myself going to Europe.

Related: Justin Thomas - "You don't need distance"

"It's rough flying public, having to have a flight, a mask on for ten-plus hours, just doesn't sound very good to me. Doesn't sound healthy at all, so I don't know what I'm going to be doing.

"I know I'm defending in Spain and also defending in Dubai. Dubai is so far ahead, we are going to have to see what's going to happen I don't know.

"Right now my main thought is I don't know if I'm going to be able to go to Spain and see my family at Christmas. That's my bigger thing right now."

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV