Jon Rahm reminded everyone of his brilliance with a closing 65 at the 2025 Open de España, finishing inside the top ten yet again. But even with performances like that, his Ryder Cup future remains uncertain. Ever since joining LIV Golf, Rahm’s place on the European team has been a constant topic of debate. Now, a leading golf analyst believes the DP World Tour should take a hard look at its stance, arguing that Europe simply cannot afford to leave Rahm out

Brendon Porath, speaking on his Fried Egg Golf podcast, argued against that. “They’re going to do it… He’s going to be in the Ryder Cup. It’s just like I don’t know what to tell you. We’re not going to get into a situation where he can’t be on the Ryder Cup team. I would think the European Tour knows better than to do that.“

After his stint at Madrid, Rahm clearly stated that he will be taking the remaining season off. The next time fans could see him officially on course will be next year, at LIV Riyadh, scheduled to take place in February 2026.

While this break could raise questions about form or commitment, Porath believes that DPWT cannot afford to remove Rahm from the mix. His belief is that the player keeps proving himself on the course consistently. Despite his winless season, Porath points to how Rahm went on to record 11 top-10s in 13 starts. Still, it is off the course that has drawn a big question mark on his eligibility.

Rahm is caught up in a tangle of fines and suspensions imposed by the DP World Tour for his participation in LIV Golf. Each event that is played outside of the European Tour has demanded a £100,000 fine. Rahm has refused to pay them, while potentially playing a key role in negotiating the terms for the same.

The situation is further complicated by his appeal to Sport Resolutions, an independent tribunal that has put the sanctions on hold pending a ruling. These are the very reasons Rahm is allowed to play in the events conducted under the ambit of the European Tour. The points accumulated through them have kept him in contention for Ryder Cup selection.

The nuances go deeper than this. It is a known fact that Rahm is a marquee player from the European side. He is a two-time major champion, a former world No. 1. Across four appearances, he boasts a 6-3-3 record, contributing 10.5 points from 17 matches and performing reliably in both singles and team formats.

This yields a 61.8% point conversion rate as per Datagolf. Rahm has remained undefeated in foursomes, often being paired with another LIV counterpart, Tyrrell Hatton (who’s also refused to pay the fines). Rahm was also the top scorer for Europe in 2021. In 2025, he held a record of 3-2-0.

Perhaps most importantly, it’s also a known fact that Rahm brings a lot of fan fest and sponsor engagement to the events. Known for his aggressive nature on the course, his appearance will always add an extra entertaining element to any Ryder Cup played.

As Brendon Porath says, despite the technicalities and legalities, it is highly unlikely that Rahmbo will see himself out of the Ryder Cup roster. If he continues performing well, he can be part of Team Europe for a fifth time. But Rahm’s talent gives him leverage that other Spaniards don’t possess.

Sergio García’s Ryder Cup hopes fade

Compared to Jon Rahm’s situation, Sergio Garcia offers a starkly different picture. The 45-year-old is on the verge of losing his DP World Tour status next year. Despite clearing most of his fines imposed on him, the Spaniard cannot muster a good performance on the course.

Since his LIV Golf Hong Kong win in March 2025, Garcia has struggled to find any momentum. At the same Spanish Open, he managed only a T39 finish. When asked later about his slipping world ranking at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, he cut the conversation short. “No, I’m not going to talk about that. We’ve been talking about it for a long time, and no, I’m not going to waste my time.” Garcia currently sits 177th in the Race to Dubai standings.

Garcia is someone who really wants to see his name on the Ryder Cup team. That is in part why he also cleared his fines and didn’t appeal to the DPWT like Jon Rahm and others. His feelings were evident when he abruptly pulled out of the Amgen Irish Open after the European team was finalized. His hope of playing one last time in the biennial event seems distant as ever.