Still the No. 3 player in the world despite not earning World Ranking points in the four LIV events in which he’s appeared this year, Rahm said his game is trending “in a really good direction,” and that mentally he feels great not playing as much as he did a year ago.
His preparation for the Masters includes a LIV event at Doral in Miami the week prior, and, more importantly, an upcoming visit to Augusta, his first since his victory.
“I will actually be going next week, probably for a couple of days, if I’m allowed to say that. I think I am,” Rahm said a bit sheepishly. “I will be going next week with a really dear, good friend of mine who’s a member there and spending a couple rounds.
“I think it would have been really hard to go and defend not having gone once before as the defending champion, if that makes any sense. I think I can get a lot of the experiences of going back and feelings out of the way before Masters week.”
And while he’s there, he’ll cross one more item off his to-do list. He has to find his new locker in the Champions Locker Room.
“I think my next thing,” he said, “is seeing where my name is going to be, who am I going to be sharing a locker with.”
Winning the Masters is a life-changing event, and Rahm already has discovered that. Throw in the decision that changed the arc of his pro career, opting to join LIV, and this Masters will be unlike any other for a defending champion
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