AUGUSTA, Ga. — After yearly, Jon Rahm likes to hit the reset button. And heading into this main season on the Masters, the Spaniard felt as if he wanted the reboot greater than most years.
“I like conserving [goals] recent as a substitute of simply saying I wish to win X quantity of issues by or within the subsequent 5 years,” Rahm mentioned at Augusta Nationwide on Tuesday. “I really feel like I carry out higher and I am going with a extra clear mindset to face the 12 months if I do this train of closing the web page on the 12 months earlier than and begin a brand new one for the next 12 months.”
Rahm went from the highs of profitable the 2023 Masters solely to search out himself in a wrestle to make the minimize eventually 12 months’s occasion. He went on to complete in a tie for forty fifth earlier than lacking the U.S. Open with a foot harm and lacking the minimize on the PGA Championship.
Since 2018RankTop-10s5T-1stScore to par-361stRounds in 60s121st
A tie for seventh on the Open Championship was his saving grace in 2024.
“Not my favourite main season final 12 months,” Rahm mentioned. “I feel final 12 months, the state of my recreation was being unfairly judged based mostly on how I performed right here and on the PGA in comparison with how I actually performed all through the entire 12 months. Whereas I perceive why, I do not suppose it was probably the most truthful state of my recreation. … “[I] really feel like I am taking part in a lot better golf coming into this week.”
Since becoming a member of LIV in December 2023, Rahm has completed inside the highest 10 — together with two wins — in 17 of the 18 occasions he has performed on the circuit. However, as he admitted forward of this 12 months’s Masters, final season was a brand new expertise for him whereas having to juggle private {and professional} adjustments.
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
“Final 12 months, for me, was robust as a result of it was the primary main after becoming a member of LIV and I used to be additionally defending, so there was so much occurring that week,” Rahm mentioned. “A number of new issues — new locker room, having the Champions Dinner. It was so much to regulate to. I feel a variety of it was extra inner in my case than exterior.”
Rahm’s recreation hasn’t fallen off, by any means. He joked Tuesday that he is perhaps exterior the highest 100 within the Official World Golf Rating (he is eightieth) — which does not keep in mind LIV occasions — however he is nonetheless fourth on the planet within the Knowledge Golf rankings.
“I’d simply say final 12 months I used to be capable of rating very well,” Rahm mentioned. “I by no means actually felt 100% comfy with my recreation all through, and that is presumably why on the larger phases when it was tough, like right here or the PGA, I did not play my finest golf.”
DatesSiteFinishApril 4-6MiamiT-9March 14-16SingaporeT-5March 7-9Hong KongT-6Feb. 14-16Adelaide6thFeb. 6-8RiyadhT-2
Talking in Spanish later in his information convention, Rahm added that he has labored along with his driver — he noticed too many balls going left off the tee final 12 months – and feels sharper general. When requested the place he feels he ranks within the sport proper now, Rahm chuckled.
“I’d nonetheless undoubtedly take into account myself a top-10 participant on the planet,” Rahm mentioned. “[But] It is arduous to inform today.”
Rahm famous that his psychological state has been helped by having his household with him eventually week’s LIV Doral and this week in Augusta — his spouse, Kelley Cahill, had been unable to journey since final 12 months’s PGA Championship after having their third youngster. He additionally mentioned that, although he’s not superstitious, within the 9 appearances he has had on the Masters, he has made a degree to play the course within the weeks main as much as the event seven occasions.
This 12 months, he wasn’t capable of. The final time that occurred was 2023, when he gained.
“If I win this 12 months,” Rahm mentioned. “Then I positively will not come once more early.”
