Rahm-Cantlay And Morikawa-McIlroy: 8,000 Miles Between Them

Jon Rahm and Patrick Cantlay are the two most visible players in the field this week at the American Express and they should be.  After all, Rahm is the world’s No. 1 and Cantlay is the reigning PGA Tour Player Of The Year and a California kid and he’s back in California at LaQuinta.

Meanwhile, some 8,000 miles away, 8,162 to be a bit more precise — the European Tour leaves that name behind and the DP World Tour era begins and the HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi is thrilled to have world No. 2 and reigning Race To Dubai winner Collin Morikawa on hand along with Rory McIlroy making his first appearance of 2022.  Side note — those fat appearance fees that Collin and Rory are collecting won’t hurt either.

Rahm and Cantlay both gave good accounts of themselves at the Tournament of Champions.  Rahm pressed eventual winner Cam Smith all day over the final 18 and came up just one putt short.  You may recall that the Aussie, Smith, set a new PGA Tour scoring record — 34-under.  Rahm broke the old record as well (32-under) with his 33-under effort.  Cantlay finished solo fourth and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if both are in the hunt this week.

As for Morikawa, he was the first American to win the Race To Dubai although Tiger Woods led the old Order Of Merit a few times himself.  If there was a Race To Dubai back in his prime years, El Tigre would have lapped the field.

Which brings us to this first event of the new year for the DP World gang and a new venue in Abu Dhabi — the Yas Links — a cool course with eight holes on the water.

Morikawa has yet another chance to replace Rahm as the world’s No. 1.

We saw the scenario for the first time back at the aforementioned Tiger Woods year-ending event — the Hero World Challenge.  Young Collin had a whopping five-shot lead heading into the final round and simply fell on his face — the closer didn’t close.  He shot 76 — a real headscratcher — worst round from him in 10 months.

Of course he was asked about it over in Dubai this week and the reigning Champion Golfer Of The Year didn’t make excuses.  “I was frustrated for a couple days, and then you get over it and then I’m motivated,” he said.  “So now it’s more motivation. But what you learn from a round like that is a lot.  It was a weird Sunday because I felt great going into it.  Game felt good.  Warmup felt great. First couple holes felt good.  It was just something I couldn’t get out of, and I went from trying to win the tournament to just trying to hit a decent putt.  Just trying to start the ball on-line, and that’s the worst thing when you’re trying to win a tournament is when you’re thinking about things.”

Collin had a second chance to overtake Rahm at the top at Kapalua but he couldn’t keep pace with any of those top four guys although he did eventually tie for fifth.  By now Collin probably realizes that Rahm is enjoying his moniker at the world’s No. 1 and won’t give it up without a fight.  The scenario for Morikawa this week would require him winning in Abu Dhabi and Rahm finishing in a tie for seventh or worse back at the Pete Dye Stadium course in LaQuinta.

Morikawa has learned to have a short memory when he contends but doesn’t win.  His mantra has been “What’s Next?”

“I get over things pretty easily, and I think for me it’s motivation<” said Morikawa who has been getting better with each season.

For the record, regardless of what happens this week good news is that both Rahm and Morikawa will be in next week’s field at Torrey Pines for the Farmers Insurance.

And we know how Rahm feels about Torrey Pines.

It’s a new year for both stars and everyone else.

Game on.