Rahm casts doubt on DDF Irish Open defence

Jon Rahm of Spain hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the second round of the 101st PGA Championship held at Bethpage Black Golf Course on May 17, 2019 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America)

World No 1 Jon Rahm looks highly unlikely to defend his Dubai Duty Free Irish Open title at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort next month.

Asked ahead of this week's Northern Trust in Boston if he planned to play in Europe in the autumn, Rahm said: "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.  

"My first concern, right, is how safe it's going to be and how things are going to be run."

With The CJ Cup (Oct. 15018) rumoured to be moving from South Korea to Las Vegas, Phoenix-based Rahm is reluctant to leave the US.

"Right now, I just don't see myself going to Europe," he said. "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."

He won’t get to defend the Spanish Open at it has been cancelled while the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai (Dec 10-13), also appears in doubt.

“Dubai is so far ahead, we are going to have to see what's going to happen, I don't know," he said. "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.  

“If it comes between going to Spain and seeing my family and playing a golf tournament, I'm not playing golf, that's all I can say."