Jon Rahm eyes Ryder Cup spot after professional debut

Only one year and one week ago, Spain’s Jon Rahm made his professional debut at the Quicken Loans National on the PGA Tour. He opened with a 64 at Congressional and tied for third, earning a spot in the British Open and putting him on the fast track to earning a PGA Tour card.

The renewal is this week but Rahm is in Paris for the French Open. On the American side of the Atlantic, it raises the question of whether young players who receive sponsor exemptions fresh out of college owe it to the tournaments to return the favour by playing after they have established themselves. Rahm already is No 11 in the world. He also has special circumstances, achieving so much so quickly he has scheduling issues he might not have expected.

The 22-year-old Spaniard wants to play on the European Tour and play in the Ryder Cup, which next year is at Le Golf National, home of the French Open.