Rahm gets ready for his Augusta debut

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 seeing off 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 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 threetime 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.”

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 and Adam Scott are among the field.