The Open de España got a significant lift on Wednesday morning when Jon Rahm, confirmed his participation in the tournament following reports that his wife, Kelley, had given birth to their third child.
The Spaniard had pulled out of the Wednesday Pro-Am, raising questions about his availability for the event, which he's won three times.
However, according to a report by Spanish outlet Marca, the 29-year-old is set to tee off as planned on Thursday, as aims to become the first four-time winner in the event's 52-year history on the DP World Tour schedule.
The tournament marks Rahm’s first start on the DP World Tour this season, excluding the Olympics, following his move to LIV Golf in December.
Initially, there were doubts about whether he would be able to compete in his home open after he stated that he wouldn’t pay the fines imposed by the DP World Tour for participating in LIV Golf events.
However, just before the tournament's entry deadline, Rahm appealed the sanctions, allowing him to enter the field for the Spanish Open, the Dunhill Links Championship, and the Andalucia Masters.
By competing in these events, he will maintain his DP World Tour membership and preserve his eligibility for Ryder Cup selection.
Rahm could also qualify for the DP World Tour Play-Offs in the UAE.
The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is open to the top 70 players in the Race to Dubai standings, while the DP World Tour Championship invites the leading 50.
Currently ranked 125th, Rahm, a three-time DP World Tour Championship winner, has the chance to climb the rankings with strong showings in Spain and Scotland.
