Jon Rahm reveals when Sergio Garcia will likely captain European Ryder Cup team

Jon Rahm believes it's "very obvious good choice" that Sergio Garcia captains the European Ryder Cup team when the biennial contest returns to Spain in 2031. 

The DP World Tour yesterday confirmed that Camiral will follow Bethpage Black in New York (2025), Adare Manor in Ireland (2027) and Hazeltine National in Minnesota (2029) as the venue for golf’s greatest team contest in 2031. 

Camiral, formerly PGA Cataluya, is situated in Costa Brava, near Barcelona. 

It will be the second time Spain has hosted the Ryder Cup, 34 years after the legendary Seve Ballesteros captained Europe to victory at Valderrama in 1997, becoming the first country in Continental Europe to host more than one Ryder Cup. 

That honour recognises the hugely significant contribution that Spanish golf has played in the history of the Ryder Cup, with 11 Spaniards having represented Team Europe, the joint second highest of any European country after England.

When pressed for comment on what it would mean for Rahm to compete on the European Ryder Cup team in six years team, when he will be 36 years old, the LIV Golf superstar had a glint in his eye.

"Yeah, it would be absolutely incredible not only to continue Ryder Cups but to be a part of one and play in one at home," Rahm said on Wednesday ahead of his title defence at LIV Golf UK at JCB in England. 

"I don't think I can describe it. 

"Both Paris and Rome were so incredibly special that to think of playing one in Spain, I really couldn't put it into words."

Rahm then put forward the name of his childhood hero and compatriot Garcia as an obvious choice for the captaincy, should it be deemed LIV Golf players can return to the position in the future. 

"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," continued Rahm.

"I really don't know what to -- I wouldn't know how to feel.

"There's certainly some pressure that comes with it, but it truly would be a dream come true."

Rahm added: "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."

Rahm explained at The Open over the weekend how would like to see himself and Garcia both compete on Luke Donald's 2025 European Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black in New York September 26-28.

The former World No.1 thinks it would be "pretty unique" if he and Garcia were to both represent Spain on the team.

Both Rahm and Garcia are on the outside looking in when it comes to the automatic spots on Donald's side.

It would seem a guarantee Rahm receives a pick on the team, but less so for Garcia, who will likely need to show something over the coming weeks on LIV Golf if he's to compete on a joint-record 11th European Ryder Cup team.