£5M MAN RAHM READY TO SWING FOR RIVALS
THE GOLF year launches in Hawaii today at the PGA Tour’s Tournament of Champions with eight of the world’s top 10 in action and all eyes on Jon Rahm after a £5million club switch.
The world No.2 will be playing his first event since making the lucrative move from TaylorMade to Callaway and swapping manufacturers after winning twice last year is a gamble.
While there are five million reasons why the Spaniard would jump, there are also plenty of sob stories which would caution against it. The most recent was Justin Rose’s switch to Honma which was a disaster with the agreement torn up last May after the Englishman fell down the rankings.
The marriage between Rory McIlroy (right) and Nike was also laced with early problems.
However, Rahm claims to have been flying in practice in Arizona. “I can’t wait to start the year,” he said. “The equipment is already performing well for me, and in my first round with the new setup, I shot a course-record 59 at Silverleaf. I have confidence in my new Callaway clubs – and especially the golf ball, which has really impressed me.”
The 26-year-old has some illustrious company on the island of Maui in a 43-man field which includes defending champion Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele, the 2019 winner. Schauffele is still recovering after contracting coronavirus last month. The Californian self-isolated at a hotel for the next two days and then woke up “sick as a dog”. He said: “I’m just happy to be here slowly getting my strength back.”
The only two of the world’s top 10 absent from Kapalua Plantation are Tyrrell Hatton and McIlroy, who begins his season at the Abu Dhabi Championship on January 21.
LEE WESTWOOD has been voted the Association of Golf Writers’ Golfer of the Year for the fourth time, with Women’s Open winner Sophia Popov runner-up.