Denis O’Brien’s Camiral on Catalonia’s Costa Brava was officially named as the venue yesterday and Rahm, who was speaking ahead of LIV Golf UK at JCB Golf and Country Club, reckons Garcia could follow in the footsteps of 1997 skipper Seve Ballesteros and captain the side on home soil.
“Knowing that some things smoothed over in the world of golf, that Sergio could possibly be the captain of the Ryder Cup team, that also adds to it,” Rahm said.
“I think there’s something to say about possibly having, obviously, a local captain. I think it would do wonders for the crowd.
“If history shows us anything, and it’s very hard to compare anybody to Seve, but I’ve only heard stories about what that Ryder Cup was like.
“I would say, if possible, I think that’s a very obvious good choice to have Sergio be a part of that one.”
Spain’s Sergio Garcia in action during The Open at Royal Portrush in Antrim last week.
Rahm’s Legion XIII teammate Tom McKibbin will be 28 in 2031 and while he opted not to take Rory McIlroy’s advice last year and joined the Saudi-funded tour despite warning that it would diminish his chances of qualifying, he admits he’d love to play for Europe in Adare in 2027.
“I mean, yeah, I’d love to be a part of Ryder Cups and things like that,” said McKibbin.
“But again, it just depends just how everything is and how my golf game is by then or before then.
“Obviously, you’ve got the one in Adare Manor in 2027, so I’d love to try to be a part of that, and yeah, just keep trying to play the best I can to work towards those.”
McKibbin missed his first cut in a major at last week’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush, but he hopes that Portmarnock is added to the rota of courses in the future.
“I think Portmarnock is a great links course, probably one of the best in the country, and again, it’s a very sort of special, special place, special golf club with a lot of history,” McKibbin said.
“It’s a very pure form of golf. As all the rumours are, the Open there would be pretty cool, and to sort of have two Open venues on the island would be pretty cool.”
The Newtownabbey native (22) won the Porsche European Open in 2023, but he has yet to win under the 54-hole format since joining the LIV Golf circuit this season.
“If you don’t quite have it the first day, it’s quite a lot of grind to make up for it the last two, and then obviously the fields are strong here,” McKibbin said.
“There are some incredible players, major champions, and I feel for me personally, I feel like the golf courses have been a little harder.
“But overall, I think the main thing for me what I find is trying to get off to a good start so you don’t have to chase as much the last couple of days.
“I haven’t been able to win on the European Tour since then, so I think it’s hard to win anywhere.”