Surely it’s not with the desired timing, but Jon Rahm has already touched with his fingers the long-awaited big round that, as he stated at the Masters, was very close.
At Whisper Rock, an exclusive course in Arizona, the player from Barrika signed a great round of 59 strokes just 48 hours after playing the last and decisive round at Augusta National. This was shared on social media by his LIV Golf teammate and friend, David Puig.
Even though it’s a practice round, you don’t play a round of that calibre unless every facet of the game is working perfectly. It’s not the first time the double Major champion has recorded such a low round in a practice session; in 2021, he already mentioned playing such figures at Silverleaf Golf Club in Scottsdale.
The round could have been even better. After sealing an initial round of 29 strokes with five birdies and an eagle, he strung together five consecutive birdies between holes 10 and 14. He was two more successes away from a 58. However, in the final stretch, he could ‘only’ add one more at the 17th. The par-five 18th hole resisted him.
David Puig, who played a great round of 65 strokes, sportingly accepted his defeat by 6&5. There’s little you can do against such a birdie festival.
Days like this surely give Rahm confidence for the upcoming challenges ahead, LIV Golf in Mexico next week, in South Korea the following, and, of course, the PGA Championship in mid-May at Quail Hollow.
