Jon Rahm made a dramatic return to form at the Andalusia Masters, showcasing his golf prowess during his time with LIV Golf to DP World Tour bosses.
Rahm was on a tear midway through the home stretch, shooting a 6-under 66 in the second round to move into a tie for sixth with 36 holes remaining. The former world number one boasted a performance that featured eight birdies – five of them on the front nine – to help him recover from a slow but steady start on Thursday.
As this week's favorite, Rahm's rise up the leaderboard on day two will bolster his belief that he can win his first DP World Tour title in almost two years, excluding four majors .
After a strong start on the front court, Rahm added three birdies on the back nine despite bogeys on either side of the turn, the latter on his final hole. In addition to his strong performance on Friday, Rahm has been focusing on his off-course business this week in addition to his efforts on the greens.
Following the relegation of former teammate Kieran Vincent in September, the captain of LIV side Legion XIII is looking for the final member to complete his four-man squad for the 2025 season. Although there are still five months until the new LIV season, Lahm has already started looking for a replacement.
Before the start of the game, he revealed to the Spanish media “Golf Sin Etiquetas”: “I have no signed players yet, but we have six or seven players in mind.” Lahm also hinted that he is monitoring the specific talent he is sharing lessons with in Andalusia this week.
The LIV golf captain has been caught up in a storm of controversy recently. His Ryder Cup future became uncertain after joining the split LIV league late last year.
To qualify for the esteemed Ryder Cup, European golfers must compete in at least four DP World Tour events each year.
As the leaves begin to fall, Ram faces a race against time. Although he is committed to LIV Golf this season, he had to complete three more events last month to secure a spot on Bethpage Black's European team next year.
Fortune has favored Rahm, who has successfully competed in the Spanish Open and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, with his appearance this week marking a crucial fourth event. However, he is not too safe as potential penalties or even a suspension from the DP World Tour loom.
Under current Tour rules, Rahm faces penalties every time he participates in a “clash” event on the LIV circuit. He is expected to settle those fines before he is eligible to compete in the Ryder Cup.
However, the Spanish golfer revealed last month that he refused to comply.
“I'm not a big fan of fines. I think I've been outspoken about that,” Lahm declared. “I'm not planning to pay the fine and we've been working hard to discuss with them how to make that happen.”
After challenging the sanctions, Lahm successfully re-entered the European tour stage. It remains to be seen whether his appeal will be resolved before or after next September's Ryder Cup.
