A fun experiment this Tuesday at Quail Hollow. The best in the world have been parading before the journalists, and they’ve all been asked the same question: If the genie in the lamp allowed you to change some part of your game with another golfer, what would it be and with whom? And we can tell you, they’ve been candid…
Jon Rahm, for example, has chosen Rory McIlroy for Quail Hollow. The numbers are irrefutable. He also wouldn’t mind spending some time with the solidity on the greens of Xander Schauffele. However, if he could only choose one for the rest of his life in all tournaments, he would undoubtedly go with Tiger Woods and his putting, especially the decisive putts. The Michael Jordan of golf.
Speaking of Jon Rahm and Tiger Woods, it turns out that Scottie Scheffler has placed both at the same level when talking about something he ‘envies’ from both. The Number One has elaborated on the answer and has been very generous. “If we’re talking about the driver, I would choose Rory McIlroy. Tiger Woods has also been very good with the driver, but the key to Rory is that besides hitting long, he does it very straight. As for the putt, I go with Sam Burns. I play a lot with him, and sometimes he sees the golf hole like a basketball hoop. I like to observe others and learn, I keep doing it daily. Jon Rahm, for example, plays every shot with tremendous passion. It’s rare to see him lose concentration. Tiger was also like that: every shot was the most important of his life,” he assures. It’s not a bad comparison. If Jon conveys anything on the golf course, it’s intensity. Like Tiger.
More interesting responses. Justin Thomas hasn’t shown a hint of doubt. He chooses the driver and goes with two: Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. Another who goes with Scheffler, although with another part of his game, is Jordan Spieth. Specifically, his shots to the green, ultimately, his irons.
For his part, Xander Schauffele is the only one who found the question a bit uncomfortable. “Man, just before a Major, where you have to think there’s no one like you in any part of the game, it doesn’t seem very fun to answer that… But well, if I had to say something, I would lean towards some of the best players in the world around the green. I could change that. I have room for improvement in that aspect,” he assures. By the way, regarding the praise of his putting by Rahm, Schauffele believes it is circumstantial. “I think it’s because the times I’ve played golf with him, which have been many, I’ve played at a high level and putted especially well. Surely that’s why he has that perception,” he says humbly.
Bryson DeChambeau is also very clear about where he has the most room for improvement. If there’s anyone analytical, it’s him. If he could swap with someone, it would be in the shots to the green from between 110 and 50 yards. That is, with the wedges. “I’m quite inconsistent in that aspect. I would have to study who the five or six best in the world are in this aspect and swap with one of them,” he concludes.
