Jon Rahm: People feel a bit of betrayal by management

Jon Rahm has explained that many of his peers feel betrayed by golf’s hierarchy, after the shock merger news broke last week.

Speaking before this week’s US Open, the Spaniard addressed the news that shook the world of golf, saying that he found out while he was at home taking care of his kids and that it wasn’t easy to wake up and see the bombshell news.

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“I think it gets to a point where you want to have faith in management,” said the Masters champion.

“I want to have faith that this is the best thing for all of us, but it’s clear that that’s not the consensus. I think the general feeling is that a lot of people feel a bit of betrayal from management.”

Although Rahm made clear the news was a shock to him, he explained he understood why the meetings had to remain under wraps to the golf world.

“I understand why they had to keep it so secret. I understand we couldn’t make it through a PAC (Player Advisory Council) meeting with more than ten minutes after people spilling the beans right away.

“I get it. I get the secrecy. It’s just not easy as a player that’s been involved, like many others, to wake up one day and see this bombshell. That’s why we’re all in a bit of a state of limbo because we don’t know what’s going on and how much is finalised and how much they can talk about, either.

“It’s a state of uncertainty that we don’t love, but at the end of the day, I’m not a business expert. Some of those guys on the board and involved in this are. So I’d like to think they’re going to make a better decision than I would, but I don’t know.

“We’ll see. There’s still too many questions to be answered.”

Rahm, who is looking to win his second US Open this week, also sounded off on the golf ball rollback plans, saying that if they were to come into force, many of the tee boxes at this week’s venue, Los Angeles Country Club, would become obsolete.

“Obviously the USGA and the R&A want to make a change to the ball to somehow protect the game, which is fine,” he said.

“If they think that’s the best decision, so be it. It’s funny to me because how many of the tee boxes on this golf course will become obsolete if they change the golf ball? At least half would be unusable for the next – I don’t know how many years.

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“I think you’re going to have to go to forward tee boxes to be able to play some holes, and I don’t think the scores would change that much, honestly.

“I think as a general norm, we’ve become better athletes and more optimised to play this game, but I don’t even know how to say. At the end of the day it’s a decision, and we’re going to have to deal with whatever they decide.”

While there’s plenty of outside noise, Rahm was quick to say that his main focus is on the golf this week. One hole in particular, the short par-3 15th, has caught his eye.

The hole can play as short as 80 yards, with the world No.2 saying holes that length are something beautiful.

“Very rarely are you going to have a hole that short where the best players in the world are going to be thinking about going 20 feet long and left to use that slope to at least hit the green, and that’s something beautiful,” he explained.

“It’s a hole that gives you a lot to think about. I wish we saw more of them like that. You can try to be brave and hit the shot, or you can use that front side of the mound on the green to give yourself a birdie look. It wouldn’t be the easiest birdie look, but yeah, it’s fun.”

Rahm will get his US Open underway playing alongside Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland.

Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor