A T6 finish for a golfer like Jon Rahm is actually a below-average result, considering his exceptional talent and usual dominance on the course. At the recent Hong Kong event, Rahm carded 12.5 under par but still found himself outside the top 5. Given his lofty standards, this finish is a reminder that he’s not quite firing on all cylinders. Well, he recently opened up about the struggles he has been facing with his game.
Speaking at the LIV Golf Singapore press conference, Jon Rahm opened up about his struggles with his wedge game, an area where he’s typically excelled. This year, however, Rahm has been losing shots to the field from 150 yards in, a concerning trend ahead of the Masters. “I haven’t played my best,” Rahm admitted. “I haven’t felt as comfortable as I would like, and it’s showed in my wedge game, especially last week.”
Rahm has accepted that he’s losing strokes around the greens, a far cry from his usual dominance in this area. He knows that a strong short game is crucial for contending at majors, particularly at Augusta. “If you want to contend and win and especially win majors, you need that part of your game,” he emphasized.
Rahm’s self-awareness and willingness to address his weaknesses are admirable, but the timing couldn’t be worse. With the Masters just around the corner, Rahm will need to quickly turn his wedge game around if he hopes to contend. To put this into perspective, Scottie Scheffler, last year’s Masters champion, showed what it takes to excel in this area with an SG: ARG mark of +1.97. That’s the kind of performance Rahm will need to replicate if he wants to make a run at the Masters title.
Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters 2024 Jon Rahm ESP on the 9th tee during Round 4 of the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters 2024 at Club de Golf Sotogrande, San Roque, Andalucia , Spain. 20/10/2024. Picture Thos Caffrey / Golffile.ie All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Thos Caffrey San Roque Club de Golf Sotogrande Andalucia Spain Copyright: xThosxCaffreyx *EDI*
But that’s not the only issue Rahm has this year, as the competition is extra fierce this time around. How, you ask? Well, along with some of the top-ranked golfers, LIV Golf’s big guns are also part of the field.
Top LIV Golf names at the 2025 Masters
The world’s top golfers will converge on the iconic course, each vying for the coveted Green Jacket. Among them are some of the biggest names from LIV Golf, who will be looking to make a statement at the season’s first major.
Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Sergio Garcia are just a few of the LIV Golf stars who will be teeing off at Augusta National. These players have earned their spots through various exemptions, including their previous wins at the Masters. Tyrrell Hatton, who finished T9 at the 2024 Masters, has qualified through his top-12 finish last year, as well as his ranking in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
Joaquin Niemann has received a special invite from the Augusta National following his impressive performances on LIV Golf. Cameron Smith, the Ripper GC captain, has qualified through two different criteria, including his five-year pass from winning the 2022 Open at St Andrews. These LIV Golf players will be looking to make a statement at the 2025 Masters.
Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, and Charl Schwartzel are also part of the LIV Golf contingent at the Masters. Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, has had three other top 10s since his win. Watson, a two-time Masters champion, will be looking to rediscover his form after a disappointing season on LIV Golf. Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, will be hoping to build on his top-10 finish in 2022. With so many talented LIV Golf players in the field, the 2025 Masters is shaping up to be an exciting and unpredictable tournament.
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