It’s no secret that Jon Rahm’s playing has decreased significantly since he joined LIV Golf.
As of 2024, he has teed up the Saudi-backed circuit 15 times, but has yet to claim an individual victory.
Rahm, on the other hand, came to Augusta National a season ago as a three-time winner on the PGA Tour. He played 28 rounds.
Despite this disparity, Rahm believes playing less is not a bad thing. In fact, he feels quite the opposite.
“From how I felt today on Tuesday, I feel physically better than last year,” Rahm said ahead of the Masters.
“But once the competition starts, it doesn’t really matter. Once the gun goes off, everything you felt goes out the window. You have to go out there and keep score.”
Despite not winning in 2024, Rahm still ranks second behind Joaquin Niemann in total strokes gained at LIV Golf. He remains an otherworldly talent and is the guy who could win back-to-back Green Jackets this week.
If he continues to win, he will join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo as the only players to win the Masters back-to-back.
Last week in Miami, Rahm tied for fourth with Tyrrell Hatton and Mark Leishman. However, the Legion XIII LIV Golf team, which he captains, won the team competition.
“I wouldn’t have been thrilled with the way I finished, and I wouldn’t have been sad or upset, but I wouldn’t have been excited either,” Rahm said.
“It was fun to be part of a team. That’s one of the driving forces for me to make a difference. It’s fun to be part of a family and participate in a common goal as a team, right? And the team wins.” It was really, really fun to enjoy it.”
Still, Rahm admitted he misses competing on the PGA Tour, even though he has played less in LIV and feels stronger at this point in the season.
“It’s never been easy not being in Palm Springs, Torrey, Phoenix, Los Angeles. And I keep saying that, because those are venues that I really love,” Rahm said. said.
“It was very difficult to drive by Phoenix if I had to, see the stands, and know not to go there, right? I still love the PGA Tour and hope everything is going well. I hope we can play there again someday.”
If Tour brass and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) can reach a formal agreement, perhaps Rahm will play on the PGA Tour at some point.
But before that, Rahm is focused on Augusta National, feeling better than ever and ready to make history.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
