Jon Rahm's Sergio Garcia replacement dealt Ryder Cup blow amid LIV Golf links - The Mirror

Jon Rahm had hoped that Adrian Otaegui would replace Sergio Garcia as his Spanish partner at this year's Ryder Cup, but Otaegui's qualification hopes have taken a hit due to his LIV Golf links

Jon Rahm could be without yet another Spanish partner at this year's Ryder Cup, as European hopeful Adrian Otaegui has been dealt a huge blow in qualifying.

Rahm discussed the ineligibility of his fellow countryman and former Ryder Cup partner Sergio Garcia, after his Team Europe career came to an end when resigning his DP World Tour membership last month. Garcia's decision came after he was handed a hefty £100,000 for joining LIV Golf last summer.

Whether LIV Golf stars will be able to compete at this year's team match play tournament in Rome remains to be seen, but one man who will be there made his feelings clear in regard to the LIV debate.

Discussing the omission of Garcia, Rahm said: "I’m going to miss him. A Spanish duo in the Ryder Cup I think to me is embedded into the roots of the Ryder Cup. Look with Seve (Ballesteros) and Ollie (José María Olazábal) were able to do throughout their partnership, right.

"So it’s a little sad to me that politics have gotten in the way of such a beautiful event." Despite Garcia's fate being sealed, Rahm remained optimistic of teaming up with a fellow Spaniard in September, due to the hot form of Otaegui, Pablo Larrazábal and Jorge Campillo, who have climbed the rankings in recent weeks.

Alluding to this, the Masters champion added: "So, it’s unfortunate. I will miss him. But with that said I want to be hopeful, there’s a couple of Spanish guys playing really good right now, so hopefully they can join me on the team.”

The hopes of that being Otaegui though have taken a huge hit though, after the Telegraph reported he had been handed a four-tournament ban from the DP World Tour due to featuring in the LIV Golf Series last year. The Spaniard competed in four LIV events during its maiden season in 2022.

And amid the ongoing DP World Tour punishments against LIV players, Otaegui has been forced to pay £240,000 in fines as well as serving his suspension. The 30-year-old's impressive recent run has seen him rise to sixth in the European Ryder Cup Points List.

Most recently, Otaegui finished in solo second at the Dutch Open, two shots behind eventual champion and fellow Spaniard Larrazábal. But, the four-time DP World Tour winner is set to lose all-important ground on his fellow Ryder Cup hopefuls ahead of his long spell on the sidelines.