Jon Rahm Continuing to Soak Up Augusta National's Secrets
Is Jon Rahm pragmatic or delusional?
Is Augusta National his kryptonite or his manna?
The 28-year-old Spaniard sat in the interview room at Augusta National looking comfortable but believing each attempt at winning the Masters is compartmentalized.
Each shot, each hole and each round have its own existence, having a life of its own.
His first appearance in 2017 when he finished T27 is not the same as his T7 in 2020 or T5 in 2021.
The six career appearances and 24 rounds have a little for everyone to point to for Rahm’s potential success or failure.
Rahm led the 2020 Masters after 36 holes but faltered with a 1-under 143 on the weekend and Dustin Johnson took the title.
Outside of the $358,417, Rahm earned four crystal highball glasses after an eagle in the first and fourth rounds.
“I feel like it's very difficult to apply everything you learn from each round here at Augusta National,” Rahm said. “I think the main thing is you get an idea of how to play each hole, get on the golf course, getting to play the golf course in every single wind, every single possible condition, right, which every year I feel like the weather has been a little bit different and we've seen different things.”
After half-dozen appearances, the No. 3 player in the world (No. 2 SI World Golf Rankings) seems to get Augusta National and its biases and quirks, from the difficult short par-4 3rd hole to Amen Corner. Rahm has tried to the extent one man can, having learned, catalogued, and applied what he has absorbed from the southern masterpiece.
He doesn’t try to overachieve, but more tries to stay connected.
In 2020, Rahm was asked about the one piece of advice that has stuck with him about playing Augusta National.
He went back to thoughts from former champions Phil Mickelson and fellow countryman Jose Maria Olazabal.
“Every single hole at Augusta National, except the par 5s, plays over par,” Rahm said. “And even par 5s, except one or two, play just under par, right? So just understand the pars are never bad. Even if you make a par on a par 5, it's not a bad thing. You're not really losing ground.”
Rahm felt that advice provided great perspective on a golf course that might have more lore than any on the planet.
“If you're able to make a par or you miss a putt for birdie, it's just knowing that you're getting on the field either way,” Rahm said.
Counting 2020, shooting 276—12 under par or making birdie on all the par 5s and pars on the remaining holes—would have won 12 Masters and two playoffs.
Rahm’s experience and his file cabinet full of knowledge is buoyed by his game which for the past three months has been on autopilot.
Three victories and a total of six top 10s and Rahm has been a runaway freight train, mowing down most of the competition.
But unlike most punters and fans, who depend on the recent past, Rahm does not.
“Form, you aren't going to always be indicative on how good of chances you have, but at the end of the day, it's a new week, right,” Rahm said. “What you've done before doesn't really matter, period.”
Yet, Rahm sees the amount of repeat winners—17—and the number of Masters they won—48—and he knows that once you find the key to the lock, winning is achievable.
“Something about this golf course, Rahm said. “I think it's because it allows you to play however you want to play it that always gives every player a chance, right. There's multiple options off the tee, multiple options into greens. There's not one style of golf. You can pretty much do it however is most comfortable for you. And if you play good golf, you might be able to get it done.“