The Masters champion is back from a break and eager to chase the Claret Jug this weekend at The Open in Hoylake, England.
Jon Rahm, whose triumph at Augusta in April marked his second career major (he also won the 2021 U.S. Open), begins his quest at Royal Liverpool Golf Club among a group that includes Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy. The threesome tee off at 9:59 a.m. ET on Thursday.
McIlroy won the last time The Open was held at Royal Liverpool (2014) and won the Scottish Open last week.
Meanwhile, Rahm was recharging.
“When we did the schedule early in the year, we did purposefully have this three-week break,” he said Tuesday.
“We knew it was gonna be a lot going into this, and then afterwards we have the playoffs … Ryder Cup, Spanish Open. A lot of golf to play after this so we needed to have a little bit of time to rest — we all need it.”
And Rahm’s family was certainly among the reasons.
“It was nice to be at home and be Dad for a change without having to think about golf for a few weeks.”
Rahm’s best finish at The Open was a tie for third in 2021 before finishing T34 last year.
As for the course, the 17th hole is drawing particular interest. The short par 3 is set up to be unforgiving if a player misses the green, but Rahm embraces the challenge.
“This time, they made a really difficult turtle shell par 3,” Rahm said. “If you hit a good shot (and) put it on the green, you have a clear look at birdie; if you miss the green, you have a clear look at bogey.”
He said it’s hard to really define whether the change was the right thing to do.
“I would say it’s fair because it’s unfair to everybody.”
The Spaniard was asked about PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan in the wake of the decision to merge the LIV and PGA tours.
Rahm said he received a text from Monahan but that has been the extent of his recent communications.
“Jay has behaved so well and so professionally with me and my family,” he said. “I’ve seen him stop to talk to my dad and my mom in a few tournaments now, and he’s been really good to my family, so in that sense he’s a really good man.”
He said Monahan has done “a fantastic job” with the PGA/LIV situation and believes the situation needs more time to figure things out.
“I still think they have the best interest of the players at heart, and all we have now is a framework of an agreement; it’s an agreement to have an agreement.”
Rahm has not lost trust, saying there is plenty of time to work on things and “prove that it was the right decision.”
He emphasized that it was his decision to stay with the PGA Tour and doesn’t believe he’s owed reparations.
“Do I think there absolutely and should be compensation? No …” he said. “With that said, if they’re going to do it, I’m not going to say no.
“We all had the chance to go to LIV and take the money. … (But) as far as I’m concerned they (PGA Tour) have done enough for me.”
Rahm did say those LIV players shouldn’t necessarily receive a free pass and an unconditional welcome back.
“I believe that some punishment should be in order,” he said, adding that those decisions were more for a disciplinary board to make.
Rahm said the PGA Tour has reached out to him to talk about the LIV situation and will continue to do so.
–Field Level Media