The beauty of The Masters lies in its familiarity, but the week ahead at Augusta National is shrouded in a element of mystery and intrigue for Jon Rahm.
That, of course, is a consequence of the Spaniard’s own doing. He drives down Magnolia Lane this week not only as the defending champion after his supreme final-round display twelve months, ago but also as the latest big name to leave the PGA Tour for the riches of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf.
Rahm’s high-profile departure has left him with contrasting build-up to this year’s Masters, too. In 2023, the 29-year-old arrived as the game’s in-form player having won three of his first eight tournaments of the year.
This time around, however, he will begin his campaign with just five of LIV’s 54-hole events under his belt. For many fans, Thursday’s first round may be their first time seeing Rahm compete since his move.
At his pre-tournament press conference, Rahm cut an uncharacteristically reserved figure, his mannerisms and hushed tone perhaps hinting at a man who was still coming to terms with his new place in golf’s ever-changing ecosystem.
He sought to justify his decision to jump ship at the back end of last year but also spoke candidly about the hardship of missing out on big PGA Tour events and his desire to compete there again in the future.
‘I’ve mentioned a few times, there are some venues that I miss not being at, not only because I won but just because I love it,’ he said. ‘Not being at Palm Springs, Torrey Pines and L.A. wasn’t the easiest. Driving by Phoenix as often as I had to, seeing the stands, and knowing that I wasn’t going to be there was quite hard.
‘I still love the PGA Tour and you do miss competing against certain people. I still wish everyone the best, and I still hope that at some point I can compete there again.’
But, with a finalised deal between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, LIV’s bankrollers, nowhere in sight, the two-time major champion – like many of his LIV peers – will remain confined to the four major championships to enhance his legacy against the rest of the world’s best.
Augusta will therefore take on added significance. Rahm will face off against his former colleagues for the first time since his move to LIV, but it may be one of precious few occasions in the months and years to come.
In his absence from the PGA Tour, Scottie Scheffler has reaffirmed himself as the dominant force. The American, a past Masters champion in 2022, enters this week after wins in successive events at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship.
Wyndham Clark, the reigning US Open champion, has risen to world number four having finished runner-up to Scheffler in both events, while Rory McIlroy showed signs of promise with a third-place finish at last week’s Texas Open.
Rahm’s start to the year, in comparison, has been understated. Despite three top-five finishes, he remains winless after his first five events. For large parts of the season, he has found himself either outgunned by Joaquin Niemann’s early-season form, or overshadowed by the dramatic comeback of Anthony Kim after a 12-year hiatus from the sport.
It is that understated start to the year – away from many of the world’s best and the eyes of many casual fans – which sees the Spaniard return this week as LIV’s biggest star, Augusta’s defending champion but still somewhat of a forgotten man.
Perhaps Rahm prefers it that way. His press conference certainly seemed to suggest a desire to keep things low-key. But he is also a man who reflects upon his place in the game more than most.
Only three men have ever retained their Masters title – Rahm will be aware of that. He will also be acutely aware of the lack of opportunities he now has to test himself against many of the world’s best players.
His off-season dealings may have made him the world’s richest golfer but, this week, the defending champion still has a point to prove.
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