“I f***ing well hope so!”
Jon Rahm delivered a most memorable recommendation when asked if he would like to see top-Scot Robert MacIntyre again as a team-mate later this year in defending the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Park Black in New York.
Rahm had just crashed-out on debut in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic with scores of 69 and a bogey-laden 77 for a two-over tally on the host Emirates Golf Club course.
The top LIV Golf star and Masters champions second round included just two birdies but also three bogeys and a pair of double bogeys, and Rahm’s worst ‘regular’ tournament round since a 77 on the second day of the 2022 Masters.
“I F***ING WELL HOPE SO!”
Jon Rahm’s @JonRahmOfficial @livgolf_league laughing response when quizzed if he’d like to see @robert1lefty @GlencruittenG @ArnoldClark again as 2025 @RyderCupEurope team-mate
Read: https://t.co/ulGva3OYCr
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— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) January 17, 2025
Rahm played the two Dubai rounds in the company of fellow Masters green jacket winner Adam Scott and MacIntyre, a team-mate from the winning 2023 European Ryder Cup side from Rome.
And despite the Spaniard’s Dubai disappointment he was full of praise for MacIntyre who, in contrast, posted a 69 to be inside the top-20 at four-under and the assurance of a third New Year pay cheque in as many events.
Rahm said: “I’ve played with Bob a few times. We got paired at The Open, for instance.
“I absolutely love Bob, even though I only understand about 35 percent of the words he says as it is quite a thick accent and an accent I’m not used to (smiling).
“He’s just a great player to be around. He’s fun and I feel like we have quite a similar character. In a way, we understand each other and he’s just a fun person to be around.
“He’s just a fantastic player. Two wins last year, one big one being the Scottish Open and him being at home and producing a birdie-birdie finish after almost doing it the previous year.
“Yeah, plenty of talent and plenty of capabilities. It doesn’t take much to get to a different level and he definitely has more than enough talent to do that”.
It prompted this journalist to ask Rahm if he’d love to see MacIntyre back in Luke Donald’s team later this year to defend the Ryder Cup?
Rahm (smiling) declared: “I f***ing well hope so!”