AUGUSTA, Ga. — Jon Rahm ruffled his hair.
OK, he wasn’t actually bristling. Because ram never bristles. It’s too gentle for a bristly hair, so I respect it.
But when it was suggested that the players on the LIV Tour (which he also participates in) did not feel the pressure to win, did not care as much or put in the same effort, the 29-year-old Spaniard ‘s blood pressure rose at least a tick or two like it did when they were on the PGA Tour.
Reigning British Open champion Brian Harman spoke the day before about how important it is to test your game against the pressure of a PGA Tour event. This is because this is where the most strength is required to win.
“That’s an argument you can’t really understand unless you’ve had the experience of playing in a tournament,” Rahm said. “I understand that there are not many people, but [in the LIV tournament fields]. I understand that the team format is a little different. I understand we’ll be playing shotgun, but the circumstances (54 holes) are a little different than his PGA Tour event (72 holes).
“But the pressure is there,” Rahm continued. “I want to win as much as I wanted to win before I moved to LIV. Yeah, it’s the exact same feeling when you’re competing and you go downhill. It really doesn’t change.
“Just like when I went through the Spanish Open and many other events where the field might not be up to the specified level, [PGA Tour] event. That’s not really the case…Winning is winning and that’s what matters. ”
Rahm is one of 13 LIV players competing in the 88th Masters, which begins Thursday at Augusta National.
Each LIV player, led by defending champion Rahm, enters this Masters with a chip on his shoulder, determined to prove he’s at least as good as, or better than, those left on the PGA Tour. There’s little room for doubt. .
Last year, the Saudi-sponsored tour was a huge success with 18 LIV athletes competing, with three of the athletes finishing in the top five by the end of the week. Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson tied for second behind Rahm, who had not yet departed for LIV at that point. and Patrick Reed finished fourth.
Rahm, who signed a huge contract with LIV reportedly worth between $400 million and $500 million, is a staunch supporter of the PGA Tour and LIV, and is keen to see LIV come to an agreement that would allow all of its best players to compete against each other. We are reaching it. In addition to the big four.
Rahm thought that he might be able to act as a bridge to connect the bitter two sides.
“Yes, I understand my position,” Rahm said. “And I realized that it could be a step towards some kind of agreement, as I had hoped, yes. Or something like an agreement or a quick agreement. But… Unfortunately, it’s not up to me. At the end of the day, I continued to do what I thought was best for me.”
Rahm was asked an interesting question. Does he think he’s being seen as a defending Masters champion this week or as a LIV player?
“Both,” Rahm replied.
When asked which one he thought would come first, he said, “Based on my experience so far, as Masters champion.”
Unlike many other LIV players, Rahm admitted there is a lot missing from the PGA Tour.
“There are some venues that I miss being a part of, not just because I won, but because I love them,” he said. “That’s why I’ve been able to play well in these tournaments. I’m not in Torrey’s Palm Springs. [Pines], Phoenix and Los Angeles are venues that I really love, so it wasn’t easy. ”
Rahm, who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, drove past TPC Scottsdale in preparation for the Waste Management Phoenix Open, knowing he wouldn’t be able to play, causing FOMO (fear of missing out). He admitted that he was troubled by this.
“It was pretty tough,” he said. “I still love the PGA Tour and hope everything goes well and I hope I can play there again someday. I miss competing against certain people.
“But competition still exists [on LIV]. Yes, the field is small, but you still have to beat some of the best players in the world, and to win these events you have to play at the same level you play on the PGA Tour. So that won’t change. ”
Rahm was asked if he thought his move to LIV would change his heritage.
“Does it change? Yes,” he said. “My path will be a bit of a detour. But change can be for the better.”
