Will ‘nappy factor’ help dad Rahm join Willett?
FIvE years ago, Danny Willett arrived at the Masters just days after his wife Nic gave birth to their first child — and returned home with the green jacket.
Now Jon Rahm will attempt to follow his heart-warming example after the Spaniard became a father over the weekend. The world No 3 had said he would have no hesitation in walking out of the Masters if his wife Kelley went into labourduring the tournament.
Happily, that is one less worry off his mind after the birth of baby boy Kepa on Saturday. ‘Without a doubt, the greatest day of my life,’ said Rahm on social media, after reporting that both mother and son were doing well.
Now Rahm will hope to join the lengthy list of top golfers who have enjoyed success on the course following the carefree joys of becoming a parent.
The trend has become so familiar that noted golf author Keith Elliott coined it the ‘nappy factor’.
The gates will officially open at Augusta for the first of three practice days this morning, with around 15,000 patrons expected to provide the soundtrack so badly missed during the Masters like no other in November.
Everything was in place on a postcard-perfect Easter Sunday, right down to the last lucky members seizing the final teetimes before the 1pm deadline, when the pros moved in.
It didn’t take long for the stunning practice ground to start filling up.
One of the first to arrive was gifted Scot Bob MacIntyre, as he prepares for his Augusta debut.
He was quickly joined by fellow leftie Phil Mickelson, and then the hardest-working man in the game — Bryson DeChambeau.
Soon he was uncorking those mighty drives with the thrashing technique that leaves the rest of the world wondering exactly how on earth his back stands up to it.
The morning had been taken up by the annual drive, chip and putt competition open to juniors from all over America.
Willett (below) — another early arrival — asked if there was anything he could do to help, which was how a couple of lucky winners got to receive their trophies from a former Masters champion, resplendent in his green jacket. A couple more got theirs from a two-time winner in Bubba Watson. More than a thousand miles away in the Lone Star State, the valero Texas Open was coming to its exciting conclusion.
Renaissance man Jordan Spieth is the quiet fancy of many for this year’s Masters and on home soil the Texan was showing why, as he sought his first title in 83 events stretching back to the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale.
Still only 27, he began the final round tied for the lead with Englishman Matt Wallace, seeking his first victory on the PGA Tour, with American Charley Hoffman, the third member of the group, also in contention.
This was the third time this year that Spieth had led with 18 holes to play, settling for top five finishes on the two other occasions.
This time, he seemed intent on stamping his authority on proceedings from the off, with four birdies against one bogey in a terrific front nine completed in 33 strokes.
With six holes remaining, Spieth had moved into a threestroke lead over Hoffman, with Wallace a further shot behind.