Jon Rahm’s mission to defend his title at the US Masters 2024 begins on April 11 at Augusta National. In the run-up to the event, the Major winner spoke at a press conference about his triumph at the US Masters, the LIV Tour and tournaments on the PGA Tour that he is missing.
Rahm about the PGA Tour: “Some tournaments I’m definitely going to miss”
THE MODERATOR: I’m Preston Smith from the Augusta National communications team. We appreciate you joining us for a call with the 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm. Thank you, as well, Jon, for your time. We look forward to welcoming you back in a few weeks.
To get started, Jon, could you take us back to Masters Sunday last year and reflect on what you felt that evening after you earned the green jacket?
JON RAHM: Going back to Sunday, it’s always very difficult to put into words. Very few times do I remember in any sporting event to have so many things line up to make something so memorable for a player, with it being Easter, with it being Seve’s birthday, with my caddie Adam and me registering as the 49th player and being 4/9, the actual date of April 9th, being the fourth Spaniard to win it, 10th Spanish major. I think it was sixth green jacket, which puts us one ahead of South Africa.
Just a lot of little things that made it so much more special than what already winning the green jacket and being the Masters champion is.
What other way to do it than finish it exactly like Seve would have wanted, hit it in the trees and getting up-and-down from 60 yards to make par. That’s about as Seve as it gets.
Q. We’re talking on the Monday at THE PLAYERS Championship, which is obviously the PGA TOUR’s flagship event. I know you’ve said in the past that you miss playing in these events. I’m wondering if you watched yesterday and sort of a couple months into your new journey how you’re feeling about the tournaments you’re playing and the tournaments that you’re not playing.
JON RAHM: There’s some tournaments I’m definitely going to miss. I hope I get to tee it up at THE PLAYERS again. It would be a bit of a sour taste if my last ever start at THE PLAYERS was WD because I was sick. I feel like it’s the time I’ve WD’d out of sickness out of my own will in my career, and it would definitely be a weird feeling if I never get to do it again.
But when it comes to the golf, the fact that I saw TPC Sawgrass come down to having people shoot 20-under par is quite unbelievable. I couldn’t tell the course conditions, right, I wasn’t there, but it looked like the greens were up to speed. The greens at times maybe a little bit softer, but still, to go to that golf course and shoot that low, I would have guessed if you shoot 20-under that you are at least winning by five, so the fact that Scottie only won by one is incredible. What an accomplishment, too, to be the first ever back-to-back champion with pretty much every great golfer in the history of this game having played that tournament at that golf course and be the first one to do it back-to-back is special.
It might not be people’s favorite venue as a golf course because it’s difficult but I think that’s what makes it so fitting for a PLAYERS Championship. There’s no way of really setting a dominance for a long time because you simply have to be the best. Every part of your game needs to be great and you need to play the best. There’s no way to hide and maybe sneak in a couple of pars here and there. If you’re missing fairways, that’s that.
It’s what makes it such a great championship is when you have such diverse champions. It was fun to watch, and what a finish. Jesus Christ, that was one that was fun to watch. I feel for Wyndham because to come back and play the last three holes the way he did and have that lip-out, it’s gut-wrenching to watch, but it made for great TV, and it was really fun.
As it comes to my new journey, it’s obviously a little bit different, but I’ve been enjoying it. We’ve had some fantastic venues to be at, and I must say for people that haven’t been to Hong Kong, I highly recommend it. I very rarely go to a city and leave it and say, man, I would come here on a vacation out of my own will; I would go on a long flight and be here because it was extremely fun. People were about as nice as can be. The golf course is fantastic, and the food situation in that city is incredible. Talk about some good restaurants, some good experiences.
So far, it’s been great. Been playing good golf. But I’m definitely looking forward to joining with the rest of the best golfers in the world and teeing it up at the Masters with them.
Rahm about the US Masters: “Even non-golfers love the Masters week”
Q. Obviously you had a major in tow before last year, but a green jacket is different. Has anything changed over the past year that either caught you by surprise or was unexpected?
JON RAHM: It’s hard to explain. I don’t know if this is because it’s a Masters and I believe so or because it’s my second major, but there was a jump obviously when I got that U.S. Open. There’s a change; your level of notoriety and fame go up a little bit. People know your name a little bit better. You get just a little bit busier.
But the jump that happened after winning the Masters was much, much larger. The level of attention, the level of recognition, the level of commitment, it just became a lot bigger than I expected it to be from two to one, as what it was from zero to one. That’s the biggest thing.
I think it’s because it’s maybe the one event besides the Ryder Cup that people watch the most. Even non-golfers love the Masters week.
It’s I think what makes it so special, and that was the biggest thing. I think this event is recognized worldwide as the only major that’s played on the same golf course every year. It’s a tradition unlike any other, and I think that’s why it was so big.
Q. I’m curious about another part of the Champions Dinner which is going to be your speech. Have you thought about what you’re going to say or what kind of message you want to give to the room?
JON RAHM: When I tell you that this has definitely been rent free in my head — I usually have no issues public speaking. No problem. I’ll get up there and talk about anything. Just the image of standing up and having everybody in that room look at me and having to speak to all these great champions, it’s quite daunting. I’ve never been one to prepare, so I’m going to go with whatever comes to mind at the moment. That’s all I can say.
I think I’m just going to speak from the heart, and that’s usually what delivers the better speech. It’s definitely not going to be prepared. I don’t know exactly what I’m going to say, but hopefully one or two glasses of wine help me get a little bit more fluid in that speech.
“I just want to be able to see the best in the world compete against the best in the world” – Rahm about PGA Tour and LIV Golf
Q. I’m sure you saw the reports about Yasir meeting with the PGA TOUR player directors yesterday. Do you hope there’s a reunification from your side, and also what kind of reception do you think you’ll get from the other players at Augusta?
JON RAHM: I mean, so far I haven’t had any bad experiences. I’ve seen other PGA TOUR pros, and I haven’t really seen anything bad. I’m assuming there will be quite a few that are not happy and maybe our dynamics has changed, but as it comes to — from my side, nothing changes. I still respect everybody on both sides and respect the game of golf above all.
Now, the future of the game at this point is up to the people higher up. I think I’ve said it before, I think there’s a way of coexisting, and if there’s some type of union, I don’t know what that looks like, but again, I just want to be able to see the best in the world compete against the best in the world, whatever that looks like.
I think there’s room for all of us, and there’s room for the game of golf to get to the next level and have more viewership options.
I think I’ve said before when it comes to football, for example, or soccer, you have the Premier League, you have the Spanish League, you have the Bundesliga, Serie A, you have the French league, and also on top of that you have the main two European events, right, the Champions League and the Europa Cup, and everybody watches all of those no matter what team they support.
So I think there is a way of having golf deliver and be able to put out a different product that’s better for everybody, not me or for players but for spectators in general.
Q. Having a few LIV events under your belt, I know you weren’t a big fan of the format before, but do you think if there’s a unification that team golf should be a part of it in the future?
JON RAHM: Like I said, I think there’s room for it. It’s really fun. I think a lot of times — it’s early on right now, but in pretty much every sport, people get behind a team rather than behind the players, and then if a superstar arises then people get behind the superstar, as well. Yeah, I believe there’s room for team golf and individual golf. I don’t see why not.
A look back at Seve and his own Masters performance
Q. I told us about how you love to watch old tournaments on YouTube. Even though last year’s final round just went up on YouTube yesterday, it’s been on the Masters site. I’m wondering, have you gone back and watched last year’s final round, and is there something that stood out from the broadcast? Then just in general, when you’re just kind of hanging out and thinking about last year, is there a moment that stands out that puts a smile on your face or that gives you a little boost of confidence?
JON RAHM: The four-putt. That’s always going to bring a smile to my face. That’s what a lot of people might remember. Out of all the great things that week, a lot of people remember the four-putt and the tee shot on 18, which wasn’t as bad as people think.
I have not seen the broadcast of the final round yet. I have seen, because I like watching it, they always do a one-hour documentary and I’ve seen the documentary of what goes on in the week, and what stood out to me is I had this image in my mind of how great I played all week, which I did, and then I watch the actual summary, and I couldn’t help to think, man, I missed a lot more shots than I thought I did, which I guess is a good lesson to have in mind, right, not only that I could play better in theory but the fact that there’s a mental lesson there. It’s just mainly that you’re going to miss shots out there and you just have to figure out how to minimize the damage.
The other thing is that my short game was especially good, especially putting. Besides the first hole of the tournament, my putting was really, really good.
I think there’s a lot of lessons to learn when you’re going back. Like many other sports, game film is important. I can learn from not only what I do but from what other people do, as well.
Q. Jon, a couple of Seve questions if you don’t mind. One, have you ever watched — how much of the videos of ’80 and ’83 Masters have you watched? Two, when it got quiet Sunday night, I think you were able to walk around the clubhouse, maybe the champions locker room with your father. I’m just wondering what caught your eye when you were up there?
JON RAHM: I have seen videos, but unfortunately back in the day, the broadcast was a little bit limited. Golf wasn’t at the spot that it is right now.
In ’80 you can see Seve got up to a really big lead, perfectly in time to watch the videos of him hitting it in the water on 12 and 13 and still winning the Masters.
In ’83, obviously the greatest memory of that win is how he hits it long on 18, doesn’t chip it on, and even though he has the lead, the guy still goes and tries to chip it in for par. On video, that putt was undoubtedly going to the bottom tier, so that could have easily been a big number, but I think with a two- or three-putt he still would have won. It’s just funny to see how those things happen.
Not a lot of every single shot down the stretch. I think I’ve seen a few more of ’86, unfortunately. You see that shot on 13 and then you see the second shot on 15. It’s kind of hard to watch.
But yeah, I’ve seen everything I can on those times, which is pretty much a little bit of the back nine.
What was the second part of question?
Rahm on his preparation and Scottie Scheffler’s performance
Q. Being with your dad later on Sunday night when you had some quiet time up there.
JON RAHM: Yeah, I just took my time to take the opportunity to ask for certain things. I was there with my dad and Kelley in the clubhouse. It’s 1:00 in the morning, and I said, if there’s a time to maybe get away with something, it’s right now, so I asked, can we go to the champions locker room because I don’t know if they’re ever going to be able to go up there again. They said yes.
It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had, to see people’s names on the lockers, to actually see the locker room, to see still the showcase they had for Scottie’s win, take a few pictures while I was up there. It was really fun.
My dad and I walked out to the balcony looking down Magnolia Lane, what you could see in the pitch darkness. They actually had one of the coolest pictures I have. I didn’t realize the camera was up there, and somebody from the corner took a picture of my dad and I talking, me with the jacket on, out on the balcony, and it’s one of the better pictures we have. I think it’s my dad’s or my mom’s WhatsApp picture, which is really cool to see, and then having Kelley up there for that, as well, is special.
Again, I don’t know if I’ll be able to recreate that again with any of them, but I’m really glad that they let us do that and they got to see the history of it.
I think my next thing is seeing where my name is going to be, who am I going to be sharing a locker with.
Q. Augusta National is one of those venues where champions have been able to win multiple jackets, and I wonder as a competitor, it’s hard to tell because you haven’t competed yet as a defender, but do you feel there will be some sort of mental freedom to competing there, having already won one of those nice green jackets?
JON RAHM: I don’t know. I think there’s an argument to be made for both. Having the comfort of having been there and having done it and knowing that you can do it again, but also having the hunger to get it done for the first time.
I think the second one is harder to overcome because sometimes wanting it too much can be detrimental, but if you get past that and you can keep the hunger, then having done it already I think is definitely a positive.
There’s a lot of people that have done it twice. Some people have done it quickly, some other players have had to wait years, but there’s a few great champions that haven’t been able to do it, so I’m hoping I can join Seve and Ollie and get to two.
Q. Obviously you’re a competitive guy. What has it been like for you the last few weeks or months watching Scottie get to the level he’s getting to, especially knowing that you can’t go up against him every week and prove where you’re at?
JON RAHM: Yeah, I’m fully aware of where Scottie is. I’ve seen it the last two years. I’m fully aware where he is.
He’s a great competitor, and he is somebody that when you’re under the gun and you’ve got to get it done, he’s been able to get it done, and he has a great partnership with Ted Scott, and they clearly work great together.
I feel like I don’t need to be playing next to him to know what’s going on. Like I said, anytime you’re doing the history he’s been able to do, it’s quite impressive.
I think that’s what’s making this Masters and many other majors going to be so much fun, not only for me and for players but for spectators, is for all of us to be able to play together again and showcase what we’re capable of.
I feel like my game is in really good position. I have not played my best yet. But I can see it every tournament getting a little bit better and getting to a point where I like where I’m at coming up to the Masters.
Now, with that said, I’m hoping I can cruise the last three holes with a nine- or eight-shot lead and just walk up 18 knowing that I can just make a 9 or a 10 and win it, but it would be really fun also to come down to the wire and make a birdie on 18 to win it, so that’s also something that would be great incredible.
His new LIV schedule and defending the title
Q. I’m curious if playing a LIV schedule versus your typical PGA TOUR schedule from a golf perspective if that’s going to change your lead-up or your prep at all?
JON RAHM: A little bit, yeah. I think I counted, last year I had eight starts before the Masters. This year is going to be five.
Last year I didn’t play the week before the Masters. This year I am. But I’ve done it in the past and done well. It’s hard to say what’s better or not. It’s a little different.
I’m glad that this year we’re going to a challenging golf course before playing a major because that I think gets you prepped very, very well for a major tournament.
So far it’s also been a bit of a learning curve. Again, it’s a change in the schedule in this early time in the year, a little bit more time at home, a little bit more time to train, and it’s something definitely to adjust and to get used to, but physically I feel better than last year. Mentally I feel great.
I’m hoping I can go to the Masters and give myself a chance on Sunday.
Q. Have you been to Augusta yet this year to check out the course?
JON RAHM: I have not. I will actually be going next week probably for a couple of days, if I’m allowed to say that. I think I am. I will be going next week with a really dear good friend of mine who’s a member there and spending a couple rounds.
I think it would have been really hard to go and defend not having gone once before as the defending champion, if that makes any sense. I think I can get a lot of the experiences of going back and feelings out of the way before Masters week.
Q. You mentioned defending, and this was brought up talking to another writer. You won three times before Augusta last year, but this will be your — the Masters will be your first title defense of the year. I wonder how —
JON RAHM: Oh, yeah. (Chuckling.)
Q. Weird?
JON RAHM: Yeah. I’m not going to lie; for everybody who said this would be easy, some things have been, but not being able to defend some titles that mean a lot to me hasn’t. I love Palm Springs. I’ve been able to win twice there. Riviera is about as charismatic of a golf course as we have. It’s definitely a week that it’s fantastic for a lot of us, and it’s a fan and player favorite. Not being there was difficult.
I still watched the broadcast. I still watch golf because I love watching it. But it’s hard. It was hard not to be at the Phoenix Open at the end of February, and it was hard not to be at Hawai’i because it’s another tournament that my family enjoys and I’ve done fantastic on.
I hadn’t thought about it until now, honestly. I try to go about my day-to-day business and what I’m trying to accomplish right now, but yeah, I haven’t thought about — hopefully this could be my first ever — I have defended the Spanish Open, so this could be my second ever title defense. That would be quite incredible.
I think just it being the Masters and being a major, it’s already a different week as it is, so I don’t think — I don’t know if I would have and I will be thinking about those tournaments I haven’t defended on. It’s done. It’s past. It’s a decision I made, and I’m comfortable with it. But I’m hoping I can come back, and hopefully I can actually defend this week, as well. That would be a dream come true. Not many back-to-back champions, and that would be very unique to be able to put my name to that list.