Jon Rahm has served a stark reminder to DP World Tour bosses of his golfing prowess during his time with LIV Golf, as he made a dramatic return at the Andalucia Masters.
At the midway point on his home ground, Rahm is solidly in the mix, having carded an impressive six-under-par 66 in the second round to place himself in joint sixth position with 36 holes left. The former world No.1's performance boasted eight birdies - five of which were on the front nine - aiding him in bouncing back from a slow but steady start on Thursday.
Coming into the tournament as this week's favourite, Rahm's ascent up the leaderboard on the second day will bolster his belief that he can clinch his first DP World Tour win in nearly two years, excluding the four major championships.
After a robust start on the front, Rahm then pocketed three more birdies on the back nine, despite making a bogey either side of the turn, with the latter happening at his last hole. Alongside his remarkable performance on Friday, Rahm is also concentrating on his off-course business this week, in addition to his endeavours on the green.
The captain of LIV franchise Legion XIII is on the hunt for the final member to round out his four-man team for the 2025 season, following the relegation of his former teammate Kieran Vincent in September. Despite the new LIV season being still five months away, Rahm has already initiated the search for a replacement.
Before the tournament kicked off, he revealed to Spanish media outlet Golf Sin Etiquetas: "I still don't have a player who is already signed but we have six or seven in mind". Rahm also hinted that he's monitoring a particular talent currently sharing the course with him in Andalucia this week.
The LIV golf captain has been caught up in a storm of controversy recently. After joining the divisive LIV league late last year, his Ryder Cup prospects became uncertain.
To qualify for the esteemed Ryder Cup, European golfers are required to play in a minimum of four DP World Tour events per year.
As the leaves began to fall, Rahm faced a race against time. Despite his commitment to LIV Golf for the season, he had to complete three additional tournaments just last month to secure his place on Team Europe at Bethpage Black next year.
Fortune favoured Rahm as he managed to participate in both the Spanish Open and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, with his appearance this week marking the crucial fourth event needed. Yet, he's not quite safe, as potential penalties or even a suspension from the DP World Tour loom large.
Under the current Tour regulations, Rahm has faced penalties each time he's taken part in a 'conflicted' event on the LIV circuit. He is expected to settle these fines before being eligible for Ryder Cup action.
Yet, the Spanish golfer revealed last month his refusal to comply.
"I'm not a big fan of the fines. I think I've been outspoken about that," Rahm declared. "I don't intend to pay the fines, and we keep trying to have a discussion with them about how we can make this happen."
Following his challenge to the sanctions, Rahm has managed to re-enter the European tour scene. Whether his appeal will be addressed before or after next September's Ryder Cup remains to be seen.
