Why Jon Rahm doesn’t take into account himself the Patrick Mahomes of golf — but

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MIAMI — I wished Jon Rahm to say he’s the very best golfer on the earth.

However he would not. 

“That is a loaded query,” he mentioned, throwing again his head for fun. “That is a loaded query.”

Forward of LIV Golf Miami, we have been sitting in a quiet room on the second ground of Trump Nationwide Doral Lodge. Above the crystal chandeliers, marble flooring, and teal-blue swimming pools of the palatial lodge, Rahm started to consider what a significant championship is value, about what the world’s finest golfer’s résumé ought to appear to be and about how he expects the golf world to measure his profession when he is completed.

“You are gauged a lot in these main championships, proper?” Rahm instructed FOX Sports activities. “All the sudden, individuals began caring about what I mentioned [after the U.S. Open win in 2021].”

By the top of the weekend, he would end tied for ninth (+1). He has by no means completed exterior the highest 10 in any of his 17 LIV appearances. Even with all these top-10 finishes, Rahm would not appear glad together with his two particular person wins in LIV when in comparison with his league rival, Joaquin Niemann, who has 4 particular person championships over the identical span.

“I believe lots of people would relatively have the {hardware} than the statistics,” Rahm mentioned when requested about his run of top-10 finishes.

And maybe that is why he laughed at my “loaded query.” As a result of he felt prefer it was off base. With all that consistency, Rahm indicated his sport is not the place he needs it to be.

“I have never been enjoying to the extent of consolation I wish to be enjoying at,” Rahm mentioned. “There’s been occasions this final yr and a half that I’ve probably been enjoying worse than my scores have confirmed — simply because I have been capable of submit good scores and handle the sport a bit of bit higher.”

That sounds … harsh.

“I am being extraordinarily essential,” Rahm mentioned with a chuckle. “I believe my swing will not be as fluid as I would really like. I believe there’s been a bit of bit an excessive amount of thought all through the method, and that is due to different components associated to the sport. We do not have sufficient time for me to get into every part. … I am not one hundred pc assured on how the shot I keep in mind goes to return out, as a result of I used to be battling just a few issues — swing ideas. It is a bit of a move state that is been a bit of disrupted.”

It is the lofty customary he is holding himself to, as a result of it is the usual that is required for profitable the majors. That is proper, it is main season. The Masters start in a matter of days. And the LIV famous person will head to Augusta to problem his league-mates in Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka and his PGA rivals in Scottie Scheffler and Rory McElroy, amongst others.

Rahm will not get away with the standard of play that he is been getting by on. Not if he needs to win.

“You get a participant of that caliber speaking about that a part of his sport,” mentioned David Feherty, retired golfer and LIV broadcaster. “[Rahm] is sort of a V8 engine. There’s one cylinder not fairly f-ing working. You bought that lumpy [feeling] sitting there on the five hundred horsepower. You understand he is not firing on all cylinders, however you may hear him coming. It is solely a matter of time with him earlier than he wins once more.”

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It began in 2023. Individuals began introducing him as “Jon Rahm, Masters champion.”

Rahm instructed me that he wished to remind these individuals: “And U.S. Open champion.”

Clearly, not all majors are created equal. However similar to an M.D. for a physician, a significant win attaches itself to a golfer’s identify. And that main win legitimizes a participant’s profession.

It is why some bristled on the suggestion that Rahm’s league-mate, Niemann, is not but within the dialog as the very best participant on the earth. Phil Mickelson mentioned Niemann is the very best on the earth. Others aren’t so certain. The Chilean has but to complete within the prime 15 at a significant — not to mention win one. Niemann is wrestling with main stress. 

Once I requested Rahm to return and bear in mind when he was in Niemann’s footwear, Rahm mentioned he did not really feel the stress to win one — nor did he really feel a significant sense of aid upon profitable. As a result of he did not view himself any otherwise. Others did.

“It virtually felt like I obtained validation from the general public and even perhaps the media. It is like abruptly what I used to be saying in interviews really mattered greater than earlier than, once I by no means modified my reply. It was actually bizarre. It was like I had a … new degree of credibility, which is sort of attention-grabbing,” he mentioned. “However I additionally perceive that, proper? It is virtually like you must show your self as a significant champion. Despite the fact that internally you might know you are ok, you continue to should do it.”

He added: “OK lastly, seal of approval. Go on.” 

So … what’s subsequent? 

He thought-about which main he’d prefer to win subsequent. Briefly, he thought-about what it may be prefer to win the PGA Championship — no Spaniard has ever received the PGA — however there’s one other main he’d like extra.

“The extra I give it some thought proper now, getting the second Inexperienced Jacket would imply a lot within the sense of tying Seve [Ballesteros] and Ollie [José María Olazábal],” Rahm instructed FOX Sports activities. “After which getting to 3 majors would make me third within the Spanish all-time checklist. That will be fairly large as nicely.”

The extra Rahm mentioned the state of his swing and the gap he feels he’s from first place, the extra I sensed an urgency in his mindset. He is 30 years previous and he is tasted champagne in a Inexperienced Jacket. However as soon as clearly is not sufficient. He is dying to sit down in putting distance on a significant Sunday once more. Heck, he is dying to even be a stroke or two off the winner on a significant Sunday. It is all about these moments of greatness. 

“These stress moments are what you reside for,” Rahm mentioned. “You have gotta put your self there although.”

Jon Rahm heads to Augusta eyeing a second profession Inexperienced Jacket. –>

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It is virtually like he’s referencing his efficiency at LIV Riyadh, when he simply barely eked out a tie for second (-15) however wasn’t in true rivalry towards the top-finisher, Niemann (-17). In a post-tournament presser in Riyadh, Rahm appeared dissatisfied in his efficiency — or maybe unimpressed with himself, as he was forward of LIV Miami. And on the Nationwide, his efficiency was extra of the identical. He was briefly in first place within the last spherical on Sunday, however just a few dangerous holes knocked him out of rivalry. It looks as if that goes again to the best way he is eking out these robust finishes, with out the identical swagger. 

However then it is also a little bit of the Ricky Bobby slogan: For those who’re not first, you are final.

“If you play [in those pressure moments], you cherish them if you’re completed enjoying,” Rahm mentioned. “Yeah, it is probably the most memorable factor. If you are going to go football-wise, you bear in mind these video games which can be a one-score sport. And also you see it travel, proper? And you’ve got these AFC Championships between the Chiefs and the Payments. You bear in mind as a result of all of them appear to be a one-score sport. And also you bear in mind the top.”

Win or lose, the shut finishes are those you always remember.

Whereas we’re on the subject of soccer, I requested Rahm whether or not there’s a quarterback he likens himself to. He’s, in any case, the captain of Legion XIII. In some ways, he is the quarterback, the chief and probably the most influential member of the staff’s success. Rahm toiled with a good comparability. Why? Nicely, he stored making clear that it is all about championships.

Patrick Mahomes, for instance, felt like a lofty comparability, as a result of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs QB is drawing comparisons to the GOAT, Tom Brady. To be within the dialog as one of many best? Rahm would not suppose he is there but. 

“Mahomes is a a lot better soccer participant career-wise than I’ve [been] as far as a golfer,” he mentioned. “If you being in comparison with the best of all time this early, I have never completed sufficient to be in contrast anyplace near that.”

So who’s it going to be?

“Any individual that is all the time been actually constant and actually good — character apart — perhaps Drew Brees. Additionally going to say Brett Favre, character apart,” Rahm mentioned. “Or Josh Allen, simply because he is nonetheless younger and he can get a win as nicely.”

I just like the Brees comparability. He received a Tremendous Bowl. With a fast launch, Brees was a grasp of the quick (or fast) sport — however that wasn’t the one factor he did nicely. With a shortened backswing, Rahm has pinpoint accuracy that blends properly together with his aggressive shot selection. Brees and Rahm are each surgeons of their video games.

But when there’s any comparability we needs to be making, it is to a Components 1 driver. In spite of everything, that has been LIV’s objective: place the league’s team-format occasions like Components 1. So which F1 driver does Rahm really feel he compares most intently with? That truly made for a harder comparability — once more, due to championships and wins. He stored saying he did not need to examine himself to Purple Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen, who has 63 wins and 4 driver championships.

“A younger Fernando [Alonso],” Rahm mentioned. 

After which he succumbed to the comparability he tried to keep away from.

“Or Max. Simply due to how aggressive they’re with no worry,” he mentioned. “Accomplishments apart.”

Once more, I wished Jon Rahm to say he’s the very best golfer on the earth. He would not.

However what he did inform me is that he has the mentality to be the very best golfer on the earth. That is why he likened himself to a younger Alonso and Verstappen. At this part in Rahm’s profession, it is about constructing his legacy. This weekend, he’ll get the prospect to verify individuals introduce him as a two-time Masters champion. After which he can interject and say: And three-time main winner.

Previous to becoming a member of FOX Sports activities as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years overlaying the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Observe him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna. 

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