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There has been a lot of chatter already this year about the low scoring on the PGA Tour.

The Sentry Tournament of Champions was won in record-breaking fashion by Cam Smith on 34-under-par, before last week’s Sony Open was won by Hideki Matsuyama on 23-under.

This week’s American Express at La Quinta looks like it might finish up somewhere between the two. With a round to go, the USA’s Lee Hodges shares the lead on 18-under-par with Frenchman Paul Barjon.

Of course, all of this low-scoring begs an important question: can you have too much of a good thing (in this case birdies and eagles)?

It seems world No.1 Jon Rahm thinks you can.

Rahm, who finished second to Smith at the Sentry on 33-under, has dropped only four shots in 54 holes at the American Express this week, carding three sub-par rounds of 66, 70 and 67 to be 13-under. 

As things stand, though, that’s only good enough for a share of 15th – and the Spaniard is clearly getting frustrated.

• Donald favourite for Ryder Cup ‘captaincy’

A hot-mic picked him up muttering to himself as he walked between green and tee during the third round and let’s just say he made his feelings on the set-up very clear.

Turn up the sound on this one but be warned: there’s some naughty languge…

For those of you who couldn’t make it out, that was: “Piece of sh*t f***ing set-up putting contest week.”

Rahm’s comments chime with remarks he made about the course earlier this week. Speaking to reporters after his opening round, he said: “It’s a great golf course, it’s always in pristine shape, one of the best we play all year shape-wise. It’s a golf course where if you play well you can give yourself a lot of birdie chances.

“If you come out here and you’re not shooting six or seven-under for the most part, you’re almost losing strokes.”


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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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