Jon Rahm returns to the Irish Open for the first time since 2019, chasing a historic third title at Doonbeg after victories in 2017 and 2019.
Jon Rahm is back at the Amgen Irish Open, and the two-time champion has a chance to put his name alongside some of the biggest legends in European golf.
Rahm returns to Ireland this week for his first appearance in the event since winning at Lahinch in 2019. The Spaniard also captured the title at Portstewart in 2017, giving him two Irish Open victories in just a handful of appearances.
A third win would move Rahm into elite company.
Only Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Sir Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie have won the Irish Open three times. Defending champion Rory McIlroy is also chasing his third title this week.
The 2026 tournament brings another wrinkle: nobody in the field has competitive experience at the host venue.
Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, County Clare, is staging the Irish Open for the first time, creating a fresh links-golf challenge for a field that also includes McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Brooks Koepka and several Ryder Cup veterans.
For Rahm, though, Ireland has long felt comfortable.
The 31-year-old has repeatedly spoken about his connection with Irish golf fans and the atmosphere surrounding the country’s courses.
His record backs that up. His breakthrough Irish Open win in 2017 came in only his eighth DP World Tour start, and he followed that with a fourth-place finish in 2018 before winning again in 2019.
Rahm arrives at Doonbeg during the tenth anniversary of turning professional.
Over that span, he has collected 10 DP World Tour titles, including two major championships and five Rolex Series victories, while also reaching World No. 1 and playing on three winning European Ryder Cup teams.
He doesn’t believe his game has undergone a dramatic transformation over the decade. Instead, Rahm views the difference as incremental improvement - better experience, better decision-making and slightly greater efficiency in nearly every area.
His preparation for this week has also looked different.
Rahm said he has spent much of the past several weeks focused on family while his wife, Kelley, prepares for the birth of their fourth child. The couple already has two sons, Kepa and Eneko, and a daughter, Alaia.
That may mean fewer practice hours entering the Irish Open, but Rahm doesn’t sound concerned.
Considering his history in Ireland, that confidence is understandable.
Nine years after his first victory there, Rahm now has an opportunity to turn one of his favorite destinations into the site of another significant career milestone.
