AUGUSTA, Georgia — Jon Rahm, whose spouse gave beginning to their first baby this previous weekend, arrived at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership on Wednesday, the day earlier than the opening spherical of the Masters Event.
Rahm, the No. 3-ranked participant on the earth, stated he hasn’t performed the course since November, when the Spaniard tied for seventh within the pandemic-delayed Masters, his third straight top-10 end within the occasion.
“Properly, my concern is that I am coming to a Masters, and from Thursday to Monday did not sleep a lot, did not hit a single golf shot,” Rahm stated. “You recognize, perhaps have not ready as a lot as I’ve up to now, however undoubtedly mentally in a distinct state, proper? A whole lot of instances training for a serious you spend a lot time enthusiastic about golf, and for 4 or 5 days, it wasn’t even on my thoughts, which is type of refreshing.
“Coming right here later than ordinary, however I am right here able to compete. I would not be right here in any other case.”
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He will tee off at 10:42 a.m. Thursday with Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy.
Last month, Rahm said that he’d skip the Masters, the first major of the season, if necessary because of the pending birth.
Rahm said his wife, Kelley, went to the hospital Friday morning and gave birth to their son, Kepa, at 12:15 a.m. on Saturday. Rahm said their plan was for him to attend his son’s first appointment with a pediatrician on Tuesday and then leave for Augusta.
Rahm, 26, said he was too busy to think much about golf during the previous four days.
“Stay up all night and change diapers,” Rahm said. “That’s basically all I can do, try to get the baby to sleep and help her breastfeed. That’s about it. I feel like I learned pretty quickly. She is the one that has obviously all the power over the baby; she feeds and everything. My job was taking care of Kelley. Make sure she’s eating, make sure she’s drinking, make sure she’s trying to rest at the right times, period, and that’s what I did.”
Rahm said he planned to spend a little extra time hitting lag putts and chipping on Wednesday since Augusta National’s conditions are much firmer and faster than they were in November.
“I’m not concerned,” he said. “I went through a major life experience. If anything I’m just happier. I’m thankful to be here. If anything, definitely a different mental state, but I would say it’s a better mental state.
“I don’t know, becoming a father is just a little different. And again, for so long I didn’t think I was going to be able to be here. I thought Wednesday, Thursday, Friday I was just going to have to get the ticket back home, right?
“So again, I’m happy that she’s healthy. I’m happy that he is healthy. I’m grateful that they’re both doing great, and I’m really happy I can be here rested and ready to compete.”
