Jon Rahm is already in Louisville (Kentucky) to compete in the PGA Championship that starts this Thursday in Valhalla, the legendary course of the 2008 Ryder Cup. The Basque attends in different circumstances than what he was used to, since his schedule in the LIV has nothing to do with that of previous seasons. He has played eight tournaments so far in 2024 and at this point last year he had participated in 11, accumulating four rounds in each one. In fact, it computed four wins to none since this campaign began. However, what the ‘León de Barrika’ has missed the most are the events at the beginning of the year, a time that the LIV does not yet cover. In any case, the Basque attends the second major of the season with desire to vindicate after his performance in Augusta (finished 45�).
“I don’t think my game has any kind of problem. I didn’t play well at Augusta, but so far I haven’t gotten out of the top 10.”says the Basque. Although he has not yet won the 54-hole circuit, he is right, because occupies second position overall in the LIV due to its regularity. Of course, the Biscayan admits that there are differences: “I know they are smaller courses, but I have been playing good golf. It’s just that the only ‘major’ I played, clearly “It wasn’t a great performance,” admits Barrika.
I’ve been playing some good golf. It’s just that the only major I played, it clearly wasn’t a great performance
In this sense, the Spaniard asks and answers: “Have I played my best golf? No. But I feel like in the last few weeks, especially after leaving Singapore, I have made a couple of adjustments that are not noticeable, like the position of the ball, but they are little things that have made my game more consistent. I have never, ever felt like I was off my game. When I say I’m not playing the best I can, I mean that my A game hasn’t come out that week, but it’s not far off. “I feel comfortable with how I played this year.”+
I have made a couple of adjustments that are not noticeable, but have made my game more consistent
Of course, during Jon’s press conference in the city that hosts the famous Kentucky Derby and where the greatest athlete in history (Muhammad Ali) was born, there was talk of the negotiations between the PIF (Saudi Arabia Sovereign Fund and the PGA Tour). In fact, there was an expression that ‘Rahmbo’ didn’t like and that served to clear up any doubts: “Look, they keep saying ‘the other side,’ but I’m still a member of the PGA Tour, whether it’s suspended or not.”. I still support the PGA Tour and think it’s an important distinction to make. I don’t feel on the other side. I just don’t play there […] “I’m going to say what I’ve always said, I hope we reach an agreement that is beneficial for everyone, but I don’t know what’s happening.”
I still support the PGA Tour and think it’s an important distinction to make. I don’t feel on the other side
The Spaniard was also asked about the Jimmy Dunne resigns from the independent PGA Tour Board, who was actively working for an agreement between PGA and PIF. Rahm only wanted to explain that he is looking for what McIlory has already mentioned several times: “A world tour with the best players in the world together. I would love it. We have the opportunity to put golf on a different level and make it more global than ever, so I fully support that idea. I think they should take their time [en las negociaciones] for this to work correctly. I don’t know if that takes one, two, three, five, six years,” he said.
We have the opportunity to take golf to a different level and make it more global than ever.
Along these lines, Jon insisted that he remains a member of the PGA and: “I am playing full time in LIV Golf. As I have said many times, if they had allowed me, I would have played some tournaments at the beginning of the year, and if they allowed me and it didn’t conflict with my schedule, I would play in the future. “The PGA Tour has given me a lot and offered me a platform and an opportunity, so I’m not going to step aside or go against this.”
The PGA Tour has given me a lot and offered me a platform and an opportunity, so I’m not going to step aside or go against this.
In this framework, the Ryder Cup was discussed, since the new CEO of the European Tour had warned that no rules were going to be changed, so LIV players would have to play four circuit tournaments and assume a significant financial penalty in case you want to compete in the most traditional competition in golf. “I have to study it. Obviously I wanted to play in Spain [el Open]. I need to talk to them about how we can resolve it so I can play some tournaments. I said I would do everything I could to get on that Ryder Cup team, I made a commitment to Luke Donald and I want to be able to be part of it. Once again the calendar will be the most difficult in that sense,” said the Basque golfer.
Regarding how he approaches the tournament after several years in the elite, the 2023 Masters champion commented: “The ‘majors’ are obviously a higher level than any other tournament you play in. In In my case, the important thing when facing them was learning to control how much I wanted to do before. It took me a while to realize that maybe last week I needed to do work at home and then this week just enjoy it and feel like I’m ready to play. There is also, I think, a before and after once you win a ‘major’ and move on to the next one.”
Regarding the storm conditions predicted for this week in Louisville, Rahm does not say buts: “I grew up in the north of Spain, where we saw more days like this than sunshine, so I feel like I have a lot of experience in this regard”.
