Jon Rahm insists his competitive edge has not been dulled by his move to LIV Golf as he bids to become just the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters titles.
Rahm’s shock move to the Saudi-backed breakaway competition came after he had previously pledged his loyalty to the PGA Tour and criticised LIV’s 54-hole format, with no cut and a shotgun start as “not a golf tournament”.
The two-time major winner has failed to win any of the five LIV events he has played but travelled to Augusta on the back of finishing fourth in Miami on Sunday and winning the team event at Doral.
“I’ve had a lot of fun playing in those events,” Rahm said. “The competition’s still there.
“Yeah, they’re smaller fields but you still have to beat some of the best players in the world and you still have to play at the same level you have to play on the PGA Tour to win those events.
“I understand there’s less people. I understand the team format’s a little different. I understand we’re going shotgun and things are a little bit different to how they are in a PGA TOUR event.
“But the pressure’s there. I want to win as bad as I wanted to win before I moved on to LIV. Going down the stretch when you’re in contention is the exact same feelings. That really doesn’t change.
“Winning is winning and that’s what matters.”
At this time last year Rahm had played eight PGA Tour events and won three of them, although his last two events before the Masters had seem him withdraw from the Players Championship due to illness and fail to advance from the group stages of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
“If anything, if I had to go based on how I feel today, on a Tuesday, I feel physically better than I did last year,” added Rahm, who started the first round with a four-putt bogey but still shot an opening 65.
“But then once competition starts, it doesn’t really matter. Once the gun goes off, whatever you feel is out the window. You’ve got to go out there and post a score.
“It wouldn’t be the first time we hear somebody not feeling their best and winning. The first one that comes to mind is Ben Crenshaw after he lost his swing coach and to come back after being at the funeral and win it.
“So it’s not something that I have in mind [fewer competitive rounds], but I do feel fresh and ready for it.”
Rahm faced the “quite daunting” prospect of making a speech at his Champions Dinner in front of what he described as an audience of “all the living legends in this game”.
That audience includes fellow LIV players and former champions Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel and Patrick Reed, but a lack of world ranking points for LIV events makes it much harder to earn a place in the year’s first major.
“There’s got to be a way for certain players in whatever tour to be able to earn their way in,” Rahm said.
“I don’t know what that looks like. But there’s got to be a fair way for everybody to compete. They’ll need to figure out a way to evaluate how the LIV players are doing and how they can earn their way.”
Simpson appointed first vice captain for 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team
Keegan Bradley has selected former U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson as his first vice captain for the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team.
Simpson, who is a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour, has lost all three of his appearances in the biennial men's golf competition.
The 38-year-old won the U.S. Open in 2012 to secure his first major championship win, and has triumphed in the Presidents Cup on three ocassions.
The United States will look to reclaim the Ryder Cup trophy at Bethpage Black in New York next September, having seen Europe win 10 of the last 14 competitions.
"Webb is someone who I have long admired and respected as a competitor and friend," U.S. captain Bradley said.
"He possesses a wealth of team golf experience and knows what it takes to win.
"Webb will be a valuable member of our leadership team and a trusted resource for me as we prepare for Bethpage Black next September."
"I am honoured to be chosen by Keegan to serve as a vice captain in 2025," Simpson added.
"Competing in three Ryder Cups will forever be among my career highlights.
I have no doubt that Keegan will be a fantastic captain and a tremendous leader, and could not be more excited to get to work as we seek to reclaim the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black."
The Open: Victorious Schauffele eyes career grand slam
Xander Schauffele set his sights on a career grand slam after a brilliant final round saw him claim victory at The Open on Sunday.
Schauffele managed a six-under 65 through his fourth round at Royal Troon, with a run of four birdies in six holes down the back nine seeing him pull clear.
He finished two strokes ahead of Justin Rose and Billy Horschel, with Thriston Lawrence, Russell Henley and Shane Lowry rounding out the top of the leaderboard.
Having also triumphed at the PGA Championship at Valhalla earlier this year, Schauffele has become the first player since Brooks Koepka in 2018 (U.S. Open and PGA) to win two majors in the same year.
Rory McIlroy was the last player to win those same two tournaments in one year, achieving the feat back in 2014.
Only five players have ever previously won all four majors in their careers – Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tiger Woods.
Schauffele is looking to follow in their footsteps in the coming years, telling reporters: "If you look hard enough, you can always find it.
"It's something, when you feel like you need an extra kick in the butt, there's several easy ways to motivate yourself.
"There's still a lot of things that I'd like to do in my career, and this is a very big leap towards that. The fire is still burning, maybe brighter than ever."
Looking at the Claret Jug in his post-tournament press conference, the world number three added: "It's an honour. I've always dreamed of doing it.
"That walk up 18 truly is the coolest with the yellow leaderboards and the fans and the standing ovation. It really is one of the coolest feelings I've ever had in my life."
The Open: Rose lauds 'cold competitor' Schauffele after second-placed finish
Justin Rose accepted he had lost out to a "cold competitor" in Xander Schauffele after the American triumphed at the 152nd Open at Royal Troon on Sunday.
Schauffele shot a magnificent final round of 65 to seal a two-shot victory in Scotland, winning his second major after he also came out on top at May's PGA Championship.
Rose joined Billy Horschel in a share of second, the Englishman managing two birdies in his final three holes to close the gap.
Rose – who has gone 11 years without winning a major since claiming the U.S. Open title in 2013 – was proud of his efforts and acknowledged he had simply been beaten by the better player.
"Obviously I tried to enjoy the walk down 18 because we did an incredible job out there," Rose told Sky Sports. "I felt like we played unbelievable golf.
"But Xander, every credit to him, he made it look so easy on the back nine. He's a cold, cold competitor, but I couldn't be more proud of myself with the way I competed today.
"There was just one little spell in the round where there were putts on 12, 13 and 14 that didn't drop and that's where the momentum shifted to Xander.
"That putt on 18, to finish strong, I knew it was for second place and I think I at least deserved that for the week.
"It's okay to be beaten by someone who shoots 31 on the back nine but I gave that everything."
Fellow runner-up Horschel, who held a one-stroke lead going into Sunday's final round, was disappointed to drop away, saying: "I'm going to always fight until the end. I was rewarded with three birdies there at the end to finish tied second with a good friend, Justin Rose.
"I should feel disappointed. I had a chance to win a major. I was in a really good position. I just made a few too many mistakes today when I didn't need to.
"But we'll look back on this in an hour and I'll be very happy with what I did this week.
"I did a lot of great things that I can take on to the next few years of majors and hopefully one of these will be my time to step through the door and hold one of them."
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
