Jon Rahm: “We’ve heard ‘It’s coming home’ so many times, that nobody wants to see it come home”

Jon Rahm addresses the media ahead of the 2024 British Open

Jon Rahm on Spanish sporting superiority, golf’s condensed Major season, and his chances at Royal Troon.

Rewind a few weeks to Pinehurst No.2 and a frustrated-looking, sandal-wearing Jon Rahm addressed the media before hobbling out on one foot leaving the room perplexed about how he could realistically compete at the highest level.

The Spaniard remains winless since joining the breakaway tour and has had a torrid time in the season’s first three Majors, finishing T45 in his Masters defense, missing the cut at the PGA Championship, and then inevitably withdrawing at the US Open just hours after trying to persuade us he was ready to win.

There have been green shoots of recovery recently though with T3 and T10 finishes in Nashville and Andalucia respectively. He’s quick to remind doubters that he is yet to finish outside the top 10 in the nine LIV events he has played this season.

“I wish I could post a video, said Rahm on his decision to pull out in Pinehurst.

“I don’t want to get too graphic for people that don’t like it, but he [the podiatrist] basically cut part of that callus out, and the second he put a little bit of pressure, which still hurt a lot, and you could still see some wanting to come out. He’s like, all right, Jon, we have to do it. There’s an abscess in there, and we have to see how much and how deep. I’m like, oh, boy…I’m not playing the US Open.”

There will be no ‘toe-gate’ in Troon, however, with a much more jovial Jon ready to attack the week he describes as his “favorite in golf”. Rahm was the next best in Royal Liverpool last time out, although Brian Harman’s commanding lead never looked like evaporating in a wet week on the Wirral.

Two top-five finishes in his last three Opens though is a reminder of the Spaniard’s links pedigree, and who would bet against him continuing his nation’s run of big wins in Troon following Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon triumph, Spain’s Euro 2024 win, and Sergio Garcia’s Andalucia title.

“It’s arguably my favorite week in golf, and to maybe even continue that, this stretch of great Spanish sports, I mean, it would be absolutely fantastic on top of all the many things that would make this week or this championship incredible, said Rahm.

“It’s just the record he [Garcia] has on that golf course is absolutely mindblowing. I think it was 17 starts, 14, 15 top 10s and 4 wins. It’s hard to do anywhere, but in Valderrama that is especially difficult.”

And when asked if he was aware of how every Spaniard was currently viewed as a hero north of the border (following England’s final defeat), Rahm was diplomatic in his response, keen not to create any enemies in a week where he will likely need all the support he can get to rediscover his best golf.

“I noticed that yesterday. Played all 18 holes yesterday, and I think I got more congratulations for something that I didn’t do than I ever have in my life. I don’t know what they’ve done, but anytime anybody plays against the English national team, every other country in Europe just unifies against them. I don’t know why or what they’ve done. I’m not aware of the history.

“I think because we’ve heard “It’s Coming Home” so many times the last few years, that nobody wants to see it come home at this point.”

Will this year be too little, too late though for the Legion XIII captain? Golf crams its four Majors into three months, unlike tennis whose Grand Slam calendar is spread across nine, affording players who lose form time to get back to the drawing board before going again.

There’s no such luxury in golf. And for those on the LIV Tour, Royal Troon also represents the last realistic opportunity to battle it out with the PGA big boys, before Augusta National in April 2025.

“I haven’t thought about that. Wow, I haven’t thought about that ever, said Rahm.

“I think we’re okay right now, but I’d be interested to hear what other people think. For me to think about maybe spacing it out, it all depends on when you play what event, where – I feel like I need to hear other opinions.”

Armed with a new driver shaft that he attributes to allowing him to swing more freely without having to think about technique so much, Rahm will tee it up on Thursday with more confidence, and arguably under less pressure than he’s felt for a while.

A relaxed 18 holes on Monday with teammate Tyrrell Hatton in rare and glorious Ayreshire conditions has got Rahm’s Open week up and running in the best possible way, although the former World No.1 is under no illusions as to the challenge that awaits.

“It’s a tricky golf course, especially the stretch of 9, 10, 11, even 12, 13, 14 now with the other tee, and I guess 15 can get quite difficult. All of them play almost in off the left. That’s a difficult part of the golf course, conceded Rahm.

“You need to do everything well. Obviously having control over the spin and the trajectory of the ball is almost the most important part.”

About the author

Ross Tugwood

Senior Digital Writer

Ross Tugwood is a Senior Digital Writer for todays-golfer.com, specializing in data, analytics, science, and innovation.

Ross is passionate about optimizing sports performance and has a decade of experience working with professional athletes and coaches for British Athletics, the UK Sports Institute, and Team GB.

He is an NCTJ-accredited journalist with post-graduate degrees in Performance Analysis and Sports Journalism, enabling him to critically analyze and review the latest golf equipment and technology to help you make better-informed buying decisions.