After missing the LIV Golf Dallas Team Championship weekend due to the flu, Jon Rahm arrived in Spain on Wednesday to play on the DP World Tour, his first since leaving the LIV Golf League last year.
Rahm, who won the LIV Golf Individual Team Championship after winning two tournaments on tour, returned home to Arizona, where his wife, Kelly, gave birth to their third child. He was allowed to skip the Spanish Open pro-am in order to be late.
This is the first of three DP World Tour events Rahm is expected to play over the next month to meet the minimum membership requirements to be eligible to represent Europe in next year's Ryder Cup.
Rahm only recently appealed penalties imposed on him by the DP World Tour for playing in conflicting events without a tour permit. He appealed those penalties, which allowed him to play this week.
Rahm, in comments to reporters at the tournament, said he was optimistic the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which funds LIV Golf, could reach an agreement.
“From the rumors that have been circulating over the last few weeks, it seems like a lot of progress has been made,” he said. “I’m optimistic. I really am.”
Asked what he would like to see, Rahm said: “Anything that allows us to play freely between tours and enjoy the game of golf. For example, in my case, playing Torrey (Farmers Insurance Open) and the American Express in January and then continuing to enjoy being a member of the DP World Tour and playing some tournaments in the fall would be no problem.”
He plans to play in the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland next week and the Analucia Masters in Spain next month.
Other LIV golfers competing in the Spanish Open include Tyrrell Hatton, Adrian Meronk, Patrick Reed and Spaniards David Puig and Eugenio Chacarra.
Rahm is seeking his fourth title in the event. Defending champion Matthew Pavin will also compete.
