Augusta, GA – Every year, John Lahm likes to press the reset button. And heading towards this major season with the Masters, the Spaniards felt they needed a reboot more than most years.
“I’m not only saying I want to get X amounts over the next five years or the next five, I also like to keep (the goal),” Rahm told Augusta National on Tuesday. “I feel like I’m performing better. If I do the exercises of closing the page the previous year and starting a new one the following year, I face the year with a clearer mindset.”
Rahm went from the high that won the 2023 Masters just to realize he was struggling to make a cut at last year’s event. He finished in a tie in 45th place, then missed the US Open with a foot injury and missed the cut in the PGA Championship.
His seventh tie at the Open Championship was his saving grace in 2024.
“Last year wasn’t my favorite major season,” Rahm said. “I think last year, my game’s condition was unfairly judged based on how I played it here and on the PGA compared to how I really played it all year. I understand why, but I don’t think that’s the fairest state of my game…
Since joining LIV in December 2023, Rahm has finished in 17 of the 18 events he played on the circuit in the top 10 (including two wins). But as he admitted ahead of Master this year, last season was a new experience for him, but he had to exchange personal and professional changes.
“Last year, it was tough for me as it was my first major after joining Liv, and I was protecting too, so there were a lot of those weeks,” Rahm said. “A lot of new stuff – a new locker room, a Champions dinner. There was a lot of adaptation. In my case, I think it was more inside than outside.”
Rahm’s game never fell. He joked on Tuesday that he might be outside the top 100 in the official World Golf Rankings (he’s number 80), but this doesn’t take into account the LIV event, but he’s still fourth in the world in the Data Golf Rankings.
“I just say I was able to score really well last year,” Rahm said. “I’ve never felt 100% comfortable with the game throughout the game. That’s probably why, like here or in the PGA, I didn’t play the best golf, maybe at the big stage when it’s difficult.”
Speaking in Spanish at his press conference, Rahm added that he has worked with a driver – he sees too many balls leaving the tee last year, and feels he’s more keen overall. Rahm laughed when asked where he felt he was currently ranked in sports.
“I still see myself as the top 10 player in the world,” Rahm said. “(However) it’s difficult to convey these days.”
Rahm noted that his mental state was helped by being with him last week at Liv Doral and Augusta, his wife Kelly Cahill this week. He also said that although he is not superstitious, he insisted on playing the course seven times in the weeks leading up to the tournament in nine appearances at the Masters.
This year he couldn’t do it. The last thing happened was in 2023 when he won.
“If I win this year,” Rahm said. “If that’s the case, I’m definitely not coming soon again.”