Jon Rahm was not a happy camper when he walked off the 72nd and final green last week at the American Express.
It wasn’t a “classic” or a “championship” simply the American Express and as stomped off that last hole, the world’s No. 1 dropped an f-bomb and an s-bomb and was totally displeased because he felt the entire week just boiled down to, as he termed it “a putting contest.”
Rahm put together rounds of 69-70-67-71 and tied for 14th. Obviously just a bit displeased, Rahm needed a warmup before this week’s trip to one of his favorite places — Torrey Pines.
Let’s go back in time for a moment to 2016. Rahm and then-girlfriend Kelley Cahill drove to San Diego from Phoenix. He was in a Monday “four-spot” qualifier and missed by one shot. The following year, his rookie season on the PGA Tour, he gave us a glimpse into what was coming from the young Spaniard.
On the final day, on the 72nd hole, Rahm rolled in a 60-foot eagle putt for his first Tour win. Truth be known, he’s since grown to love Torrey Pines. Along with his playing success, it’s where he got engaged to Cahill, now his wife and mother of their young son, Kepa.
As for the South Course, Rahm knows its suits his game perfectly.
“Oh it’s the length, I feel like it plays exactly to my strengths,” Rahm explained. “You’ve got to hit it long off the tee, it’s not going to roll much so you can carry it, and then the greens are very similar to what I grew up on (in Spain). I grew up on bent grass and poa annua mix so I’m very familiar with the greens. I know how they’re going to respond when you chip, I know how they’re going to respond when you putt, and I feel very confident on that course,” Rahm said.
There was another fairly good player who had a lot of success at Torrey Pines South.
“It’s a course I believe is pretty much a ball-striker’s course and that’s probably why Tiger‘s always played really well there. You can take it deep and just never get too far out of position and that’s why I feel like it’s a great spot,” Rahm pointed out.
The South Course is also esthetically pleasing.
“Sixteen is one of the prettiest holes you’re going to ever play, 17 can be a good opportunity for birdie but you’ve got to hit two really good shots, especially the second one,” Rahm said. “It’s a target green, you need to hit it very close to the pin otherwise you can go sloping away from the hole.”
Then there’s the incredible par five 18th, a hole that can pack a lot of drama.
Rahm explains:
“Eighteen is a hole that requires a massive drive to be able to go for it. If you decide to go for it, it’s not easy because they have those four quadrants where the pin can be. If you’re in the wrong spot, you’re going to struggle. So, you’ve got to pick and choose. When I played, I played aggressive and it paid off. But I’m sure there have been a couple people who have played aggressive and it didn’t.
At last year’s U.S. Open, Rahm finished birdie-birdie on the South Course, holing birdie putts from 24 and 18 feet to win his first major.
So what can we expect from the world’s No. 1 this week?
Well, unlike last week, it won’t be a putting contest by any means.
And yes, there are a few decent ball-strikers in the field — Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama, Bryson “The Basher” DeChambeau, Sam Burns and Tony Finau, just to name a few.
Better news is that the action from Torrey Pines starts on Wednesday, finishes on Saturday — no conflict with the NFL final four on Sunday.
Wednesday’s First Round Tee Times:
Television Broadcast Times:
Wednesday: Golf Channel: 12:30 pm (EST)-4:30 pm (EST)
Thursday: Golf Channel: 3 pm (EST)-7 pm (EST)
Friday: Golf Channel: 3 pm-5 pm (EST); CBS: 5 pm-8 pm (EST)
Saturday: Golf Channel: 2:30 pm-4:30 pm; CBS: 4:30 pm -8 pm (EST)
