Jon Rahm Backs Sergio Garcia as 2031 Ryder Cup Captain; Gotterup’s Hot Streak Continues Ahead of 3M Open

Posted : 24 July 2025

Though the 2031 Ryder Cup is still years away, Jon Rahm is already thinking about who should lead Team Europe when the competition returns to Spanish soil. With Tuesday’s announcement that the Camiral Golf Resort will host the event, Rahm believes countryman and Ryder Cup legend Sergio Garcia would be a natural choice to captain Europe. The only previous time Spain hosted the tournament was in 1997 at Valderrama, where the legendary Seve Ballesteros led Europe to victory — a legacy Rahm feels Garcia is uniquely positioned to continue.

Speaking ahead of this week’s LIV Golf event in the United Kingdom, Rahm emphasized the impact a local captain can have. “I think it would do wonders for the crowd,” he said. “If history shows us anything, I think that’s a very obvious good choice.” Garcia, 45, is the all-time Ryder Cup points leader with 28.5 across 10 appearances, and there’s still a possibility he could feature as a player this year under captain Luke Donald at Bethpage Black in New York.

Garcia himself is keeping the door open. After making the cut at last week’s Open Championship, he told reporters, “I think I can bring things to any team that would need it. At the end of the day, it’s up to the captain to decide.”

Meanwhile, Chris Gotterup is enjoying one of the best runs of his young career. Fresh off a win at the Genesis Scottish Open and a third-place finish at The Open, he heads into the 3M Open in Minnesota full of confidence. Gotterup, now ranked No. 23 in the FedEx Cup standings, said he couldn’t quite explain his sudden form surge. “I feel like I’ve been in a good rhythm and flow the last couple months,” he said.

His recent performances build on three earlier top-30 finishes, and his goals have shifted accordingly. Gotterup is now aiming for a top-30 spot in the standings, which would qualify him for the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake. “I’m playing with house money at the moment,” he admitted. “I’m excited for the rest of the season.”

Though he hasn’t fared particularly well in past 3M Open appearances — finishing T59 last year and T31 in 2022 — Gotterup believes his confidence and ability to deliver under pressure will carry him forward. “At The Open, I hit some quality shots under the gun. I think it definitely carried over, and I don’t see why that won’t continue.”

As the PGA Tour heats up and the Ryder Cup conversation picks up pace, both Garcia and Gotterup find themselves in the spotlight for very different, yet equally compelling reasons.

Jon Rahm Backs Sergio Garcia as 2031 Ryder Cup Captain; Gotterup’s Hot Streak Continues Ahead of 3M Open

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