Paul McGinley makes Jon Rahm prediction ahead of The Open: "I'll be really surprised"

Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley says he'd be really surprised if LIV Golf recruit Jon Rahm never wins The Open. 

Anticipation is building for the final men's major of the year next week at Royal Portrush. 

The Spaniard, who has already won The Masters and the U.S. Open, is among 19 players from the breakaway tour that will be teeing it up in Northern Ireland. 

Scottie Scheffler is the bookies' favourite to lift the Claret Jug, followed by Rory McIlroy and Rahm. 

England's Tommy Fleetwood, reigning champion golfer Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau and 2019 Open winner Shane Lowry are among those tipped to do well. 

But McGinley reckons it is Rahm that should have a good tournament given his skillset. 

"Jon Rahm would be the one that would come to mind," McGinley said on Golf Channel in a conversation with other golf reporters and lead analyst Brandel Chamblee. 

"I ran the Irish Open when it was at Lahinch [2019] and he won, he was brilliant, his shot making around Lahinch was phenomenal.

"He's also won up in the north of Ireland in Portstewart which is next door to Royal Portrush. He’s won two Irish opens on links golf courses.

"He's got a three-quarter swing as we know and three-quarter swingers are normally certainly good at knocking the ball down out of the air as they've got great harmony between the arm swing and the body turn. 

"With his short game too he's got all the skillset.

"I'll be really surprised at the end of this career Jon Rahm has not won Open Championships because he's got a game and a skill set that's really suited to playing links courses.

Chamblee agreed, stating that Rahm represents the best challenge to the aforementioned Scheffler. 

"He very much reminds us all of Lee Trevino but with a little bit more punch and power and obviously Trevino was very good in the Open Championship," Chamblee said. 

Jon Rahm confident of Ryder Cup spot

Multiple PGA Tour stars are preparing for Royal Portrush by playing this week's Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club. 

Rahm is playing LIV's 10th stop of the 2025 campaign at Valderrama. 

Twelve months ago, he complained that the notoriously difficult course wasn't the best preparation for an Open and urged the league to change the schedule in the future. 

He doubled down on that assertion in his news conference this week. 

"It's hard to get ready for links golf unless you're in links golf, but luckily this is a challenging golf course so the mindset you can work on in that sense," he said.  

"It is always windy so you do get to play in the wind before going to The Open."

He also believes that he has already played well enough to warrant inclusion in the 2025 European Ryder Cup team. 

Sergio Garcia also revealed he held positive talks with captain Luke Donald.