AMGEN IRISH OPEN

September 8, 2026

Jon Rahm

Trump International Golf Links & Hotel

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the 2026 Amgen Irish Open. Delighted to be joined by two-time major champion Jon Rahm. Jon, you've had great success at the Irish Open in the past with two victories. What memories do you have from those wins?

JON RAHM: Memories? A lot of 'em. One of them being close to here at Lahinch. It was one of the more fun weeks of my professional career. I thought Lahinch was a lovely town, really a lot of fun. A great golf course where a lot of people turned up. A golf course that was really fun to play. Very unusual. Some iconic holes that have been, if I'm not mistaken, have not been really changed since old Tom Morris designed it over 120 years ago I think it is at this point, I could be wrong. But some unusual holes. Just getting to play golf courses like that one of course is always a special side of coming to golf destinations like Ireland.

And embracing the culture, I don't know what it is about Irish people, but every time I come they make me feel like I'm at home, so it's always really fun.

THE MODERATOR: We'll go into some questions.

Q. First time you played since the end of the LIV season. Are you able to give any update on how your future looks? Obviously things are up in the air, with the directions that LIV is going in, just any expectation that you might move on and your thoughts on the situation at hand?

JON RAHM: No updates since Indianapolis.

Q. What do you make of the course here? Obviously it's the first time its hosted the Irish Open, what do you make of the challenge of this place this week?

JON RAHM: Well, I tried to play as many holes as I could yesterday, but I got rained out twice (laughing). I've seen 1, 2 and 3. But from what I hear it's a fantastic design. It's in great shape. Unfortunately, we got a little unlucky with the situation on the 10th, but beside that it's in perfect shape. What I've seen so far from the forecast, like all links courses, it's all going to be up to the weather and the wind, right. If the wind is like this all week it's going to be a very tough week. If it dies down, then you could look at the scoring. 1, 2, and 3 played downwind yesterday and some of the longer hitters nowadays if they start hitting driver they're going to have a lot of short irons in. Obviously on the way back there's some longer holes. But with any links golf course pretty much, very few of them are built to play in calm conditions. But obviously it will be up to the weather. But I think that's part of the charm and the challenge when you come to this part of the world.

Q. (Question about Tom McKibbin.)

JON RAHM: He's a fantastic golfer and a great young man. I'm always very impressed by his composure. He always has a smile on his face. He's always happy. He's always content. He's not really -- it's very difficult to rattle him and throw him off balance.

With that aside, as well he's got great technique and great golf game. It's a joy to watch him play golf. Every time we're on the range warming up together I always go up to his caddie, Rickie and I tell him, Does he ever get bored of watching the same shot over and over and over, because he really doesn't miss. I mean, it's a one-way draw every single time. Beautiful swing and beautiful ball flight.

Again, I don't think he needed much from me. He's not the most talkative person either. He's quite quiet, but very observant. He's learned more from observing what I do and what other players do rather than me talking. But he's a very impressive young man.

Q. (No Microphone.)

JON RAHM: Well, the first one being my first ever DP World Tour victory is always going to be the most special. Especially how that Sunday went. Starting with, not a struggle the first three holes, but not the easiest three holes. Then holing out on 4 for an eagle and kind of getting going after that. Any time you have a large lead going down 18 knowing that you've won, it's a phenomenal feeling. To get my first win on European soil like that was very, very special.

The one at Lahinch is a little different just due to the comeback, to make the cut and then even par through nine holes on Saturday, playing the next 27 holes I believe it was 14-under par to win it was also special in a different way. But that week, of course, is always going to be a bit more unique, just because of how things happened, the nature of the week, how well I played, and how that was my first win.

Q. Welcome back, it's been awhile. Your parents were over earlier this year for a bit of a tour. What is it about Ireland that you enjoy?

JON RAHM: I would say, I think I touched on it earlier, the hospitality I feel when I come to Ireland. I don't know if it's everybody or it's just me, I really, I feel like everybody's always so friendly and so willing to help and such in such a good mood all the time, honestly. It is truly a joy to be out here.

I think that their understanding of golf is very special. As a professional golfer, when you come and you feel that appreciated, it's really special. It's unique. I don't know why, but Ireland's always maybe a very special place to me in my heart. And as golf destinations go, if anybody everybody ever asks me I always say, if you can go to Ireland for 10 days, very few 10 days are going to be better than that. Plus or minus weather being better or worse, but besides that, the week in general, the food, the people, the atmosphere, the golf, hard to beat.

Q. How do you describe your game having improved? In what ways do you see it's developed over the last five or six years, and what do you hope to see in the next five to six?

JON RAHM: Well, I would say, I wouldn't say it's a drastic change in general. But I just think I'm a little bit better at every aspect of the game. I think a little bit more experienced, more knowledgeable. I'm not going to say I can hit some shots that I couldn't hit back then, but I think I've just become a little bit more efficient at hitting some shots. But the difference in this game at the highest level between what I feel like I was back then to right now was maybe -- a half a percent in each aspect of the game can have a massive impact. So I would say more experienced, more knowledge, but nothing that is massively drastic.

Q. (No Microphone.)

JON RAHM: Everything. Hopefully everything a lot more. That's the goal. I wouldn't say there's one part of my game, but, I mean, listen, I don't think any of us can make enough putts (laughing). So keep making more putts, that would be great.

Q. What do you expect your schedule to be going forward for the rest of the year, and with that what's going on with family?

JON RAHM: (Laughing). I would say, one, it hasn't changed from what I want to do. I'm playing here, I'm playing next week, I'm planning on playing Abu Dhabi and Dubai depending if we play Abu Dhabi and Dubai, depending what goes on in that part of the world. Spanish Open, it all depends on when the little one decides to arrive. I hope I can be there, but we will see. It's one of those things where family always comes first, and as much as I love the Spanish Open, if I have to choose, obviously it's an easy choice. But it all depends on when the little one decides to come.

Q. Ryder Cup next year, how much is it on your mind and how big a target is that for 2027 for you?

JON RAHM: It's still a year away. A year is a long time. I wouldn't say it's that much on my mind yet. I understand why, being in Ireland, a lot of people are already looking forward to it, because you have to plan in advance, right. But I hope I'm representing Europe at Adare Manor, I really would love to be there, but there's just so much time that I haven't really given it that much thought yet. But obviously we, a lot of us obviously want to be there and represent Europe.

Q. Do you think Tom McKibbin is potentially prepared to win a major?

JON RAHM: Yeah, I mean, yeah, he's got all the tools to win a major, and I hope he does some day. I hope he does some day. Like I said, technically, very few people are better than him swinging the golf club. He'll keep gaining the right experience and definitely give himself a chance some day, but yeah, he has what he needs to win one.

Q. (No Microphone.)

JON RAHM: I couldn't tell you too much, having not seen most of it. I walked it, but I haven't played most of it. So far I would say, yes, Lahinch has a lot of blind tee shots a lot of platforms you hit it into. Like the third hole, a little platform there on the 4th, and so on, especially on the front nine. It plays different to what I've seen here so far. That's what make it's so unique. If anything, just because of the size of the dunes and the way it's routed it has a more similar feel to a course similar to Portrush than Lahinch, but the weather is very similar.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you for your time, Jon.

JON RAHM: Thank you.