Luke Donald reckons Jon Rahm needs time to adjust to playing LIV Golf after the European Ryder Cup captain said he is "not too concerned" about the Spaniard's major form.
The double major champion joined LIV in December and has finished in the top 10 in his first seven events on the Saudi-backed tour. But the world No.5 finished tied 45th at the Masters and saw his run of making 18 consecutive cuts in the majors end at the US PGA.
Yet Donald believes class is permanent. "Jon’s record speaks for itself and what he's done," he said. "It’s just a change. golfers are very much creatures of habit. You're used to four rounds and go to three, the mentality is a bit different and you have to push a little bit more because you have one less round to do it. Golfers are very much creatures of habit.
READ MORE Rory McIlroy failing at majors because of two big issues, says his former Ryder Cup captain
READ MORE Viktor Hovland lets slip secret that could've ended PGA Championship dream
"It's all a bit new for him. His results on LIV certainly haven't been terrible, a lot of top 10s I know he hasn't won, but I'm not too concerned right now. Form is more important to me leading up to a Ryder Cup, not 15, 16 months out."
Rahm missed the weekend by a single shot after rounds of 70 and 72 in a low scoring week. "I made mistakes," he admitted. "If you don't take fairways on this course, it is complicated."
The Spaniard and Tyrrell Hatton are able to play for Europe next year as long as he keeps his DP World Tour card by playing four events each year. "If they follow the rules of the DP World Tour they are still eligible and they can still play," said Donald.
Follow us on X for the best and latest in sports news
The Ryder Cup skipper, who shot a final round of 71 to finish two-under par, visited next year's venue Bethpage Black last week. By contrast, the United States has still to appoint a captain with negotiations continuing with Tiger Woods.
"We feel like we're on track and not really concerned what the US are doing at the moment,” said Donald. "I know Tiger's very busy with everything going on on the PGA Policy Board. Maybe his focus right now is a little bit more on that. Whenever it's announced I'm looking forward to going up against whoever it is. It doesn't matter. If it's Tiger, great, if it's someone else it's no problem either."
Tommy Fleetwood said his caddie Ian Finnis is hoping to return to work at July’s Genesis Scottish Open after undergoing open-heart surgery.
The world No.11 borrowed Ian Poulter’s bagman Dave Clark at the US PGA as he made an eagle to make the cut on his final hole on Friday and shot a 65 to finish on six-under par.
Fleetwood said: "He is on his road to recovery now. He is great and I speak to him every day. I can’t get away from him. He is itching to get out again. Finno’s aim is the Scottish Open. It is just a nice goal to have."
