It’s no different every year for those struggling to hold onto their tour cards but this year Jon Rahm says it ‘bugs’ him that one of his good friends and DP World Tour compatriots is not teeing-up in the BMW PGA Championship.
Alfredo Garcia-Heredia is 31-years of age and he made his main Tour debut as an 18-year-old in the 2013 Canaries Open de Espana.
He’s never played the BMW PGA Championship and he’s currently the first reserve into the $8m event. Garcia-Heredia may yet get to tee-up but at this stage he’s going to miss out.
If there was not the presence of 17 LIV Golf players then you could argue Garcia-Heredia would be assured of a maiden Wentworth tee-time.
The Spaniard is also lying 134th on the DP World money list and needs to tee-up in an attempt to hold onto his 2023 DP World Tour card.
It’s the reason that annoys Rahm that his good friend has not qualified for the biggest regular Tour event on this year’s schedule.
“He is a good friend of mine. It doesn’t hurt me, but it does bug me that somebody who has played 20 DP World events this year cannot be given the opportunity to play a flagship event because some people are being given an opportunity when they couldn’t care any less about the event,” said Rahm.
“They don’t know the history of this event. They are only here because they are trying to get World Ranking points and trying to finish in the top 50 – and that’s clear as day.
The World No. 6 and double Irish Open winning Rahm, and now a father of two, admits that while the men’s professional game will continue to face uncertain and unprecedented times, the winner of the 2021 US Open is trying to stay positive despite rightfully agreeing “there’s “more animosity going on in the world of golf than we’ve ever had“.
“To an extent, I can see it as change that was maybe needed because things haven’t changed in a very long time in the world of golf and something needs to be done,” Rahm added.
“As bad as things are right now, I think, give it enough time, we might look at it as a positive. I’m hoping good comes with it.”
Organisers have drawn Rahm to play alongside Viktor Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton for the opening two rounds.
Garcia-Heredia will be at the course well before the opening 6.40am tee-time on Thursday and can be assured to be still there waiting in the wings ahead of the final tee-off time of 2.45pm just in case there is a withdrawal.
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