Red-hot Rahm tired but ready to roll in Houston
HOUSTON: Jon Rahm may have been too tired to play a full practice round this week but there was no chance the red-hot Spanish rookie was going to skip the final pre-Masters tune-up at this week’s Shell Houston Open.
Rahm, who will make his Masters s debut next week, played 108 holes in n seven rounds over five days duringg his run to the WGC-Dell Matchh Play final, and fatigue forced him too end Tuesday’s practice round afterr nine holes. “I was tired yesterday. I am tired today. That’s just things that happen, right,” said Rahm. “Luckily, I’m 22 and I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to get one good night (of rest) and be ready to play onn Thursday.”
Rahm, who fought back after losing g five holes during a six-hole stretch on n the front nine to push world numberr one Dustin Johnson to the 18th hole e on Sunday, has been hot all year.
In his last five starts, Rahm has fourr top-five finishes, including his firstt PGA Tour win at January’s Farmerss Insurance Open and back-to-backk top-three placings in World Golf f Championships events in Mexico Cityy and Austin.
While Johnson, whose win on n Sunday was his third victory in as s many events, decided to withdraw w from this week’s tournament, Rahmm felt it was important to keep playing.
Rahm played two majors last year — the US Open and the British Open — and did not compete in the final tune-up before either tournament. So after finishing in a tie for 23rd at Oakmont and a tie for 59th at Royal Troon he decided to try a new approach this year. “For the British Open, I think I would have benefited from playing the week before,” Rahm said. “That’s why I want to play this week. Last week I p playedy g good. Why wouldn’t I keep that level of play up.”up The world number 14 will facef stiff competition at the Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas, wh where 2011 winner Phil Mickelson is amongamo 10 previous champions in the field. World number five Henrik StensonStens heads the list and will be looking to go o one better than his 2016 runnerrunner-up finish to Americ American journeyman J Jim Herman. The oth other top-10 players in the field are Jord Jordan Spieth, Adam Sc Scott and Rickie Fowler.Fowl Reut