In the top 10 and the best Spaniard in the tournament, Jon Rahm concluded his season this Sunday at the Spanish Open. The first of his professional career without individual victories, although a fruitful one for the team, with the LIV team title for his franchise, Legion XIII, and an essential part of the European triumph in the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
Rahm, statements
That's what the Biscayan player hoped to cling to after posting a 65 (-6 for -10) with which he "at least" gave the home crowd "something to cheer about." The "-12" he had set himself the day before as a result to give himself a chance of winning didn't come out, as expected, but it was his best round of the week, with just one bogey and seven birdies. "It's a shame not to have a chance to win. Not just to win, but to be up there, in the final groups, with the crowd supporting me." But hey, at least today (this Sunday), a good round, a good final day," he stated positively. "This week I think I played well enough to have a chance of winning, but I made too many mistakes," he added.
A champion at least once a season since winning the PGA Tour Farmers in his debut season on the North American tour, and with two victories in his first year at the LIV (Chicago and the United Kingdom), the drought he's experiencing on an individual level has now lasted more than a year. Rahmbo gave himself a positive assessment: "I don't feel like I haven't achieved anything this year, to be honest. As captain (of the XIII Legion) and as a player in the Ryder Cup as well, the feeling, at least this year, isn't that it's been nothing. I've had three different victories, and in the Ryder Cup, very few of us have won away from home, so I'm calm. As far as my game goes, it could be better, but I said that at the beginning. I'm giving myself a 7 or so for the week. It could have been better, but I played very well, very consistently. Maybe some decisions, some bad swings, that prevented me from winning, but there are always options."
His roadmap now includes a long break in Arizona with his family. Initially, until February, when he will start a new season in the Saudi Arabian Super League. He assured that the European Tour has guaranteed invitations to the Dubai final to "all the Ryder Cup winners," but also that he doesn't think he'll use them. "If this is the end of the year, it's a great round to finish," he added.
"I've never had it before, I'm looking forward to it. Other athletes have it, and we'll see, we'll see. I'm lucky to be able to return home now, have a preseason, be a father, be with my family. And well, if I see that it's too much, then maybe I won't do it next year, but I'm looking forward to it," he noted of his vacation, and was blunt when asked about his presence at this event next year: "You ask me the same question every year. If there's a tournament, I'm here. Every year you ask me that, and every year I come. What more can I say or do?"
