Rahm on playing with Tiger Woods: "It was great, nobody cared about me!"
Jon Rahm says he was just a fan and a spectator as he played alongside Tiger Woods on a Masters Sunday at Augusta National.
Sometimes it's nice not to be the centre of attention. And Jon Rahm felt that way about playing alongside Tiger Woods on a Masters Sunday.
It freed up the Spaniard, now the former World No. 1, to shoot his best score of the week. Granted, the conditions were better, but still.
Rahm came into Augusta in the middle of a poor run of form with the putter. He told us as much, though every other area of his game looked solid.
Scottie Scheffler probably no doubt appreciated all the buzz Woods, 46, created before he turned up and battled his way around the hills and undulations of Augusta. He could just quietly go about his business. And he did.
Rahm, 27, went 74-72-77 before vastly improving his score whilst playing alongside the 15-time major champion. Five birdies and just a couple of bogeys was more like it from Rahm on the fast greens.
Earlier in the week he spoke about Tiger and how he had previously tried to tap him up for some much-needed advice.
Woods, apparently, was not forthcoming with any wisdom and reportedly gave Rahm some short responses about how it's all about feel before returning to his work.
Then an aghast Rahm saw Justin Thomas getting a full dissertation from the 82-time PGA Tour winner.
Perhaps that may have changed yesterday. Woods and Rahm were chatting the whole way round it seemed. It was an unfamiliar sight for golf fans who are used to seeing a steely-eyed Woods concentrate on the task at hand.
Woods was smiling from ear-to-ear. He managed to get round the 72 holes in one piece...just about. And he'll be at The Open.
Rahm told the media after his final round: "It's really cool [seeing Woods back and playing alongside him]. It was great because nobody cared about me, so I was just watching him play. It was one more spectator, and I ended playing good.
"[It was] kind of a bit of a load off my shoulders in that sense. I was able to enjoy today as a fan and as a player.
"You can just tell that his leg is just not quite up there yet. I've seen him in the truck. He is limping in the truck.
"He is limping on the course. Obviously, he is trying very hard to play, but it's not easy to walk up and down those hills. At the end you can just tell that his leg and his body are just not used to walking this much, right?
"I believe if at home he can walk and get strength up and stamina in that sense, he will be able to be competitive again.
"This is the hardest walk all year. He will be able to go somewhere where it's a little easier to walk. It won't be as long, and I believe he'll be able to contend."
