MASTERS CLASS
Rahm heads to Augusta to prove teacher right
AUGUSTA, Ga. — It’s been 38 years since a player won the Masters on his first try.
Jon Rahm has the strong belief that he can become the first first-timer to win a Green Jacket since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 at Augusta National, and its intricate nuances and treacherous undulating greens with marble-top surfaces.
“If I didn’t think I could win it, I wouldn’t be here,” the 22-year-old Spaniard said Monday. “Truly, Torrey Pines [where he won his first PGA Tour event in January] is not one of the places rookies usually win for the first time and I was able to do it. Obviously this is different. It’s a major and my first time in Augusta.
“[But] I’m going to tee it up believing that I can win, competing to win. I might do it; I might not, but that’s how I do it. That’s what I did at Torrey Pines. When I tee it up, it’s just because I want to win and I believe that I can win.’’
Rahm’s confidence should not be construed as cockiness. It’s been buoyed by not only his resounding success at an early age, but by his association with Phil Mickelson, whose brother Tim coached Rahm at Arizona State University and now manages him.
Phil Mickelson, who knows a thing or two about greatness on the golf course, recognized greatness in Rahm right away and told him so.
“He’s always [had] incredible faith in my game,’’ Rahm said. “He told me, even before I turned pro, that he thought I was one of the top-10 best players in the world. At the time, he gave me a lot of confidence. But I was like, ‘OK, he’s just trying to be nice, right? It’s not possible. I mean, I’m still in college. You can’t be as good as other players.’ “But … once I turned pro and I started doing what I’m doing, I started believing he was right, and I’m pretty close to getting to that point.” (Rahm is currently 12th in the world.) Mickelson called Rahm “a real threat’’ to win this Masters. “He continues to validate that with some incredible play,’’ Mickelson added. Rahm’s immediate goal for Thursday’s opening round is simple. “I want that ‘Oh my God, I’m playing in the Masters’ moment to be as short as possible,’’ Rahm said. “I know it’s going to happen. It might take one hole or two holes, but I want it to go away as soon as possible. I don’t want to get to my 12th hole and be like, ‘OK, we’re 3-over par, let’s get to work.’ “It’s happened before. It happened at the British Open. It happened at [the U.S. Open] at Oakmont before I realized I was 7-over par.’’ Rahm believes he’s learned a thing or two from those experiences, and the results this year show that to be true. He earned his way into the Masters field with that win at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. Then he followed that with three top-5 finishes, including nearly chasing down winner and world No. 1 Dustin Johnson in the WGC Dell Match Play final two weeks ago. Along with his growing list of accomplishments at such a young age, Rahm, too, has some Spanish synergy going for him in his first Masters. “The year I was born, [Jose Maria] Olazábal won his first Masters,’’ Rahm said of 1994. “Seve [Ballesteros] had already won two. It really is a place that seems to suit the Spanish game character, the Spanish way of playing. “Seve is my ultimate reference, idol. I try to emulate a lot of things he did. You know, the name Seve Ballesteros is really important for me. If I have a chance on Sunday, I’ll keep in mind that I know he’ll be out there, hopefully helping me out to get the Green Jacket. I know he’ll be out for the entire week, but hopefully on Sunday he can make a special present.’’