– Pressure, none; motivation, all. Jon Rahm has decided to take on the challenge of becoming the seventh Spaniard to win the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. In the past, Seve Ballesteros, José María Olazábal, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Sergio García, Álvaro Quirós, and Rafa Cabrera Bello have achieved this. The course, for now, has caught his eye. “I think it’s a fantastic course, long, surely it will get tough, harder, a good test. I’ve had success in Dubai, it’s a place I love, I have a great time (having won the DP World Tour Championship in Jumeirah three times) and hopefully, I can win here too. My wish is for a Spaniard to win this week, and if it’s me, even better,” he says.
– Rahm has confessed that this tournament is probably the one he was most eager to play among those he had never played until now. “As you know, I hadn’t come here because I really liked the start of the season on the PGA Tour on the West Coast. But now that I have the opportunity, I didn’t think twice. I had never seen it that way, but surely, among those I haven’t played yet, it’s the tournament I was most eager to play. I would say this and the old Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship,” he notes.
– He has never played the Emirates, but it’s well etched in his memory. He has watched many videos. “Of everything I’ve seen, I remember a clinic that Seve gave more than 30 years ago. You can see the course and everything surrounded by sand. It’s impressive. I also remember an incredible putt on the 18th by Tiger Woods and especially the driver shot from the 18th fairway by Colin Montgomerie… You need to have a lot of courage to make that shot. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen many images of the Spanish victories. It’s a course and a tournament with a lot of history, and I’d like to win it.”
– Speaking of golf courses, Rahm has confessed which course has resisted him the most to date, and it’s quite intriguing. It would be something like his nemesis. “There’s no course I’ve played eight or ten times that drives me crazy, but there is one I’ve played twice and, for whatever reason, hasn’t gone well for me. It’s Quail Hollow. I love it, and it has everything for me to play well, yet the two tournaments I’ve played there have gone very badly. Honestly, I think it’s circumstantial. It’s a course where you have to hit very well from the tee, one of my strengths, and for whatever reason, those two weeks I wasn’t good in that area,” he notes. For those a bit lost, Quail Hollow is this year’s venue for the PGA Championship, the second Major. Jon is already preparing for revenge.
– By the way, advice for amateurs and starting professionals: “I say this from experience and because I hear it a lot. We need to stop thinking about whether the course suits our game or not. The course is always there and is the same. We are the ones who have to adapt to the course.” Let’s take good note.
– One of the Spanish winners of this Desert Classic is Sergio García. He did it in 2017, just three months before winning the Masters de Augusta. Regarding Sergio, Rahm continues to insist that he should be in the Ryder at Bethpage. “Yes, I think Sergio is currently one of the 12 best players in Europe. He hits from tee to green better than anyone on the planet. It’s that simple. He is still very good and very valuable. I understand the change in circumstances, but ultimately, being Spanish, a friend, and a mentor, obviously, I’m going to be partial to him. I’d love to see him in that locker room. I also understand that we did an incredible job in the last Ryder Cup with a new team, we came together and performed as we did. So I hope, I believe there’s a place for Sergio there. I think there will be a place for Sergio in the Ryder Cup at any time. Now it’s just a matter of time to let the clubs do the talking.”
– As for the current situation of professional golf, Jon is in favour of maintaining a positive outlook, despite the obvious difficulties. “We are living in a golden age for golf, and the possibilities are endless. A great tour in Europe and worldwide, the PGA TOUR, another great live product, and now even the TGL. As far as golf is concerned, the possibilities are endless. I believe that if the right minds come together, a product can be created, and I’ve been saying this all along, that could take golf to a different level in the world of sports. I still have hope that this will happen.”
– Regarding the current situation of world golf, Jon insisted on the idea that LIV Golf players should have a way to play the Majors. I understand that we have all made a decision, and it’s not as easy as it seems, but saying that LIV players don’t deserve some spots in the Majors is a mistake, and I hope it changes. I believe Joaquín Niemann has done a good enough job to earn a spot in the major championships without invitations. A few years ago, Talor Gooch played well enough to earn a spot in the Majors without an invitation. There should be a way to qualify. And regarding the World Ranking points, a solution needs to be found because what we have now is not fair to anyone.”
– Of course, Jon was asked about the news revealed by Ten Golf regarding the signing of Tom McKibbin, still not officially confirmed. The question was: Do you think LIV Golf is the best environment for a young player like him? His response: “That’s for him to say, I think LIV Golf is a great environment for any player. He is an excellent golfer, and his possibilities are endless, whatever he decides.”
