The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Rahm seeks timely boost for Masters
Spaniarn anmits to tirenness but still heans for Houston to prepare for autusta nebut
Jon Rahm admits he is feeling the effects of his superb performance in the WGC Match Play, but hopes this week’s Shell Houston Open will prove ideal preparation for his Masters debut.
The Spaniard won all three of his group matches in Austin before easily defeating Charles Howell, Soren Kjeldsen and Bill Haas to set up a final showdown with world No 1 Dustin Johnson.
Johnson was five up after eight holes at Austin Country Club before being pegged back by Rahm, who was unfortunately disturbed by a noise from the crowd before his crucial second shot to the 18th.
Finishing as runner-up still lifted the 22-year-old to 14th in the world rankings and saw him installed as a 20-1 shot to become the first debutant to win the Masters since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.
Asked if his name deserved to be listed higher than the likes of three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson, Rahm said: “I feel like if I say it does belong it sounds a little bit arrogant.
“What I would say is certainly I do feel like I belong there, that I belong where I am right now and that I compete to win like before.
“I was always going to play this week. I was tired yesterday. I am tired today. Luckily I’m 22 and I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to get one good night and be ready to play on Thursday.”
Rahm won his first PGA Tour title in the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this season and finished as the leading amateur in last year’s US Open, after which he turned professional.
That meant he forfeited his place in the Open Championship from being the world’s top ranked amateur, but promptly finished third in the Quicken Loans National to qualify for Royal Troon, where he was 59th.
“It’s my first year on tour so I’m really trying to learn what I’m supposed to do,” he added at a pre-tournament press conference in Houston.
Although Johnson withdrew from Houston after his third victory in succession in Austin, the way the course is set up to resemble conditions at Augusta means that Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Adam Scott are among the field.
Meanwhile, Gary Woodland yesterday revealed the reason behind his decision to withdraw from last week’s match play event.
Woodland pulled out due to a “personal family matter” before his second group match with Rory McIlroy.
The 32-year-old did not elaborate at the time, but posted a message on Twitter explaining that his pregnant wife, Gabby, had lost one of the twins she was carrying.