Jon Rahm signed one of those rounds that make it clear why his name always appears at the top of the leaderboards. In the second round of LIV Golf Australia, in Adelaide, the captain of Legion XIII delivered a 63 (-9) without bogeys, an impeccable card that, as he acknowledged, had a clear key: the putt.
“I putted extremely well. I holed a lot of metres of putts. I can’t remember the last time I holed so many,” Rahm explained after the round. And not just for what went in: “The ones that didn’t go in looked like they were going to. It was a fantastic day with the putter.” One of those days when you see the hole like a basketball hoop.
The Basque also pointed to the course to understand the avalanche of low scores. “With less wind today and the fairways a bit firmer, the course was easier. I think the scores reflected that.” Still, he qualified, it’s not a setting that allows for relaxation: “But even so, it can get tricky.” In short, no one should think that rounds of 63 strokes are being handed out, even though three were made today.
Beyond the inspiration with the putter, Rahm highlighted his solidity from the tee and with the irons: “I did a very good job from the tee… many good irons,” a fundamental aspect on a course that, when it hardens, punishes any placement error.
Adelaide, Saturday and the assured “noise”
If the round was perfect, the atmosphere promises to get even better. Rahm, who has always praised the Australian venue, anticipated an especially hot Saturday. “Tomorrow I suppose it will be the big day, being Saturday… there’s also more time to drink, so it will be a bit noisier. And it will be hotter,” he smiled.
The tournament is also one of the favourites of the Saudi league. This is known by all. “It’s one of those events that we all look forward to… it’s a bit sad that it’s so early and we have to wait a whole year to return,” he confessed.
Surprise music… and a ‘survival’ food bag
The press conference also left two amusing anecdotes. The first, the game of surprise songs on 12 hole: “Instead of choosing our own walk-out songs, the team chooses for you and you have no idea what will play.” Rahm got Mariah Carey (“Always Be My Baby”), and he said it without hesitation: “I love that song.”
The second, his now-famous “food bag” on the course. Inside, mainly nuts: “Peanuts, almonds, cashews…” and with salt “to retain water and keep you hydrated.” Also sandwiches and bars, although he admitted he is starting to need “variety”: “A ham, cheese, lettuce, and tomato sandwich gets tiring after so many years.”
What if the Australian Open were next week?
To finish, Rahm left a message that sounds like music to the ears in Australia: if the Australian Open were played next week, he would sign up without thinking. “One hundred percent… I wouldn’t think twice, I would stay. We’re already here, why not?” He will have the opportunity to go and play at the end of the year, as long as he wants to travel and play at that time.
