Jon Rahm’s Play-Off Defeat in Spanish Open Highlights Golf’s Capacity for Upsets
Jon Rahm, the former world number one, suffered a surprising play-off defeat in the Spanish Open to world number 398 Angel Hidalgo. This unexpected result showcases golf’s ability to produce stunning upsets, unlike the more predictable outcome of the Presidents Cup, where the United States secured their 10th consecutive win over the Internationals.
Rahm, who birdied the final two holes to take the match to extra time, lost in sudden death after the unheralded Hidalgo clinched victory with consecutive birdies. The 26-year-old from Marbella has now earned DP World Tour playing privileges for at least the next two years, marking a remarkable rise for a player who once supported Rahm from the galleries.
“Winning at home, winning the Spanish Open with all the support that there has been, you could tell how much he felt it and how important it was for him,” said LIV Golf star Rahm. “May he learn from these moments and enjoy them.”
US Dominates Presidents Cup
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic in Quebec, the Presidents Cup ended in a familiar manner, with the United States winning convincingly, 18½-11½, over the Internationals led by former Masters champion Mike Weir.
The Presidents Cup, often referred to as ‘Ryder Cup-lite,’ has drawn criticism for its less intense four-day format. The combination of players from different regions, including Koreans, Japanese, South Africans, Australians, and Canadians, has sometimes felt forced.
However, Weir’s team displayed a commendable collective spirit, particularly after reversing a 5-0 drubbing in the Thursday fourballs with a clean sweep in the Friday foursomes.
Drama on the Course
There was drama too, especially involving Tom Kim. The fiery 22-year-old Korean expressed frustration when he was asked to hole a short putt that he felt should have been conceded. Kim also claimed he and partner Kim Si-woo were sworn at during their Saturday match against Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele.
However, Kim later backtracked, apologizing to Schauffele at the end of the tournament, admitting that his comments were a misunderstanding.
LIV Tour’s Impact on the Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup struggles to match the intensity of the Ryder Cup, partly due to its one-sided nature. The divide between teams has widened with the emergence of the LIV Tour, which deprived the Internationals of key players like Cameron Smith, Australia’s 2022 Open champion, and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann.
Despite the absence of stars like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka, the United States team remains formidable, with all 12 players ranked inside the Top 25 in the world.
How Can the Presidents Cup Be Improved?
Many suggest that making the Presidents Cup a mixed event could level the playing field. American Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis has been a vocal supporter of this idea, noting that the Internationals would benefit from the depth of Asian and Australasian talent in the LPGA.
“It’s the perfect way to blend the two tours,” said Lewis, adding that the international team would improve quickly with such a change. However, the PGA Tour has shown little interest in making such a radical alteration.
The next Presidents Cup is scheduled for 2026 at Medinah Country Club, where the last close Ryder Cup took place in 2012. That event saw Europe pull off a dramatic comeback, rallying from 10-4 down to win by a single point.
Looking Ahead: Ryder Cup at Bethpage
The Ryder Cup could also use a closer contest, as the past decade has seen mostly one-sided results. US captain Keegan Bradley, who confirmed the Presidents Cup win by defeating Kim Si-woo, will be looking ahead to Bethpage in 2025, where emotions are expected to run high.
Bradley, a passionate figure in American golf, was pleased to witness the dominance of Schauffele, Cantlay, and Collin Morikawa, all of whom won four out of five matches. These players, along with world number one Scottie Scheffler, will form the backbone of the US team at Bethpage.
Rahm’s Ryder Cup Journey
As for Jon Rahm, his performance in the Spanish Open may not have resulted in victory, but it helped secure his DP World Tour membership and therefore his eligibility for the Ryder Cup. With Rahm in the European lineup, the competition could become fierce at Bethpage next year.
Despite his loss to lower-ranked opposition, Rahm’s involvement in the Spanish capital could play a crucial role in Europe’s hopes of retaining the Ryder Cup.
