Jon Rahm’s Confidence Ahead of the British Open
SOUTHPORT, England — While Jon Rahm hasn’t been competing as frequently due to his participation in LIV Golf, he emphasized on Tuesday that his “confidence is always high.”
“You have to believe in yourself as a player, and trust that things will come together,” Rahm mentioned as he prepared for this week’s British Open at Royal Birkdale.
This year, Rahm has notched two victories and three runner-up finishes in LIV events, including a second-place finish at the PGA Championship in May. However, he did not perform well at last month’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock.
Last week didn’t start off great for him either; he shot a 73 in the Scottish Open’s first round but managed to bounce back with a 65 in the second, ultimately finishing tied for 36th.
“Are you worried?” was a question posed by a reporter regarding his recent play. Rahm reflected, pointing out it was just the “worst 11 holes.” He admitted struggling to find the fairway initially and estimated scoring only three pars during that stretch.
“That’s definitely not a good sign for a course like that, especially with the wind and difficulty levels. It’s tricky to set yourself up for a par save,” he said, recalling the challenges faced. “But I feel like I’ve played better since then.”
When queried about his anxiety regarding winning another major since his Masters victory in 2023, he dismissed the idea.
“Winning a major is tough, and it’s challenging for anyone in this field. I’ve only managed to win once in the last two years, so yes, a second chance would be great,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy made headlines on Tuesday after expressing his frustrations regarding his game at the Scottish Open. “Oh my god, I’m so bad at golf,” he exclaimed, referring to a viral video.
He explained, “I felt really good the first two days, but as the week progressed, my performance seemed to decline. Although I had a decent score on Sunday, I didn’t feel good overall.” He added that he had been practicing extensively to align his swing’s feel with what he was observing.
McIlroy played a demanding 30 holes on Sunday but chose to rest on Monday. “I felt good on the course today and think we’re moving in the right direction,” he remarked.
He elicited laughs when discussing his thoughts on legacy: “Honestly, I don’t care. I hope that those who care about me feel otherwise, but I won’t be around to know what anyone will say. When I’m gone, I won’t be lingering around to hear those opinions.” This sentiment echoed some responses Scottie Scheffler had shared earlier.
Meanwhile, PGA champion Aaron Rye experienced a joyful surprise following his recent victory.
“I received a handwritten note from Jack Nicklaus after the PGA,” Rye recalled. “Opening that letter felt surreal. For someone of his stature to personally reach out speaks volumes about his character.”
As the British Open approaches, there are several compelling groups to watch during the first round. Notably, Scheffler, Tyrrell Hatton, and Bryson DeChambeau will tee off at 4:48 a.m. ET, while Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood, and Rahm follow closely at 5:09 a.m. Other notable groups include Chris Gottapp, Sam Barnes, Adam Scott at 9:31 a.m. and McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, and others at 10:15 a.m. ET.
