Efforts to encourage World No. 1 Jon Rahm to tee-up in this week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship went all the way to European Tour boss Keith Pelley.
Rahm’s decision not to travel to Dubai, and an event he finished first in both 2017 and 2019, has had the Tour in virtual damage control mode.
Despite not only personal pleas from Pelley and many calls from other senior Tour staff to Rahm’s manager, the reigning US Open winner won’t be moved from spending time with his young family in suburban Scottsdale, Arizona.
It means Rahm is not competing anywhere since horribly missing the halfway cut to share 99th place mid last month at the Andalucia Masters in his native Spain to early in January at the PGA Tour’s traditional New Year opener in Hawaii.
European Tour CEO Keith Pelley and World No. 1 Jon Rahm – together in Dubai in 2017 but not this year.
Rahn has cited ‘many ups and downs’ and exhaustion even though he’s played less tournaments a season this year than ever since earning his PGA and European Tour playing privileges.
Of course, Rahm twice tested positive Covid-19 this year including the highly emotional scenes late on the third day of the Memorial when informed he had to withdraw after testing positive to the virus, and when well on track for victory in the Jack Nicklaus hosted event.
“After lengthy discussions with my team, I have come to the difficult decision not to travel to Dubai next week,” said Rahm in a statement released to the European Tour mid-Sunday (UAE time).
“The demands of a long season with many ups and downs have taken a lot out of me. I feel I need to take time to recharge my batteries while spending quality time with my family”.
His absence, and as revealed by GolfByTourMiss on Saturday here in Dubai, robs this week’s showcase €8.3m event not only the game’s top-ranked but the newly-announced 2021/22 Dubai World Tour officials the opportunity to meet with the Spaniard face-to-face, and after Rahm also skipped the elite Dubai event a year ago.
“I talked to Jon and fully appreciate and understand just how physically and mentally drained he is after an incredibly demanding year on both sides of the Atlantic, not to mention the fact he had to recover from having Covid twice”, said Pelley.
“His support of the European Tour is greatly appreciated and we look forward to seeing him out on our Tour next year, well rested and ready to go.”
Rahm is the third European-born choosing not to compete in Dubai and joining fellow US Open winner Justin Rose and double Mayakoba winner Viktor Hovland not playing.
