This is a Masters Defense unlike any other.
On Tuesday night, Jon Rahm hosted a traditional Champion’s Dinner in Augusta, and a photo appeared of past winners smiling at the event.
Rahm held a press conference early Tuesday to talk about winning the green jacket a year ago and his divisive decision to move to LIV Golf.
At the press conference, Rahm was far more interested in discussing plans for the dinner, which included a Basque-style menu with main courses of ribeye steak and rodabaggio al pilpil, than the impact of the $500 million LIV defection. He seemed interested.
“Everyone I talked to seemed really excited about the menu, and if anything, that put more pressure on me even though I wasn’t the one cooking. ” Rahm said. “So I’m definitely a little nervous. It’s very daunting to think about the room you’re in and have to stand up and talk to that group of players. It’s very daunting. Basically every living legend in the game, active or inactive…It’s great, but it’s definitely nerve-wracking to be a part of that.”
Rahm is an outgoing person who often engages with the media, but when it comes to LIV Golf, his answers can sometimes be succinct.
“Rahm is clearly bothered by everything about LIV.” CBS Sports’ Kyle Porter mentioned X. “Deep sigh. Answer curtly. It’s really approaching “I made a big mistake dot GIF” territory. ”
Among the questions Rahm had this week was whether fans thought of him as the reigning Masters champion or as an LIV player.
“Both,” Rahm replied.
He was asked for further comment based on how his week has been so far.
“From my previous experience as a Masters champion,” Rahm said.
Rahm’s departure in December shocked the sporting world and seemed to suggest to many that the PGA Tour and LIV would soon carry out a merger after a framework for the deal was agreed in June. It looked like.
However, few details have been released about the progress, despite recent talks by PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and members of the PGA Tour Players Association, including Tiger Woods, with Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
Al Rumayan is the president of PIF, the financial arm of the Saudi government that provides funding to LIV.
“What I heard at the press conference was someone trying to convince themselves that their decision to go to LIV was justified,” Golf Channel analyst Nota Begay III said Tuesday. told.
“It’s certainly in his bank account. I don’t think he’s that prepared. As sharp as possible for one of the toughest tasks asked of a player at this level in this particular venue. You have to play against the best players you think have the best. I don’t think golf is judged in a team format unless it’s the Ryder Cup or the Presidents Cup. You’re taking something away from that. trying to convince yourself that you are getting something [what] The game is a competition of individual strength and ability to perform under the most difficult conditions. We’ll soon find out if Jon Rahm is up to the task. ”
Rahm, who defeated Brooks Koepka in the final round a year ago for a four-stroke victory, will tee off at 10:30 Thursday morning with Matthew Fitzpatrick and Nick Dunlap.
