One of the most common clichés in golf is when a professional golfer, after a round, claims that the result was far below the level of play. It’s a recurring wildcard when shots from tee to green have been notable, but the putter hasn’t been up to par. For example, it happened to Sergio García on the first day. It’s less often heard the other way around, although it also happens. The best example has been Jon Rahm (PAR) today at Augusta National. His golf from tee to green was far below the result. The man from Barrika managed a good round of golf thanks solely and almost exclusively to the putter.
Jon shot 70, his best round of the week, and yet the feeling isn’t good. From the tee, he wasn’t bad, at times even brilliant. The drives on 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, and 17 were impeccable. However, his irons in general, with few exceptions, and especially the short game, were poor. If we were in school, the grade would be insufficient. On the other hand, his performance on the greens was outstanding. Top marks. If it weren’t for the putt, Jon would have ended today with a tough round to digest. It’s safe to say that no one will putt better than him today at Augusta. And if someone does, there’s no doubt they’ll end the day as the leader.
He made a great putt on 1, another very good one on 2, one more on 3, a sensational par on 4, another good save on 7, a magnificent birdie putt on 8, a galactic par on 9 (keep count and don’t lose it), another par commitment on 11, another phenomenal birdie on 14, and one last extraterrestrial on 16 to close the account. These are putts that can be made, but there are many rounds a year, many, where you go home having made two of those. We’re talking about an eight-stroke difference… Definitely, the putter came to the rescue.
The reality is that Rahm’s performance on the greens was fabulous. The ball rolled spectacularly, he perfectly understood the speed of the greens, and read the breaks like a master. The only slip was on 5, where he three-putted.
Be that as it may, beyond today’s 70, Rahm has done what he’s excelled at this year in LIV Golf: putting and scoring. The problems with his game don’t disappear. It’s not too serious, but he is going through a period of notable inconsistency. Bad shots come out. Too many for who he is. Jon assures that he’s very close, and undoubtedly, we must believe him, although from the outside it seems rather tenuous. Tomorrow he has a new opportunity to clear doubts with his long game, although really the main hole today was around the green. It could simply be a bad day, but there were too many mediocre shots.
It has to be a Sunday to bounce back and gain confidence, not so much thinking about the upcoming commitments of LIV Golf, where he has shown that even without his top level he can be at the top in all tournaments, but thinking about the PGA Championship, the next Major.
