Jon Rahm: "In the Southern Hills you have to do everything right"

the Spanish golfer Jon Rahmhe said this Tuesday, on the eve of PGA Championshipsecond ‘great’ of the season and the one to come on the rise after who won the Mexico Open three weeks agofeels more comfortable and “super fun” with the new shoes he played in 2022.

Rahm believes part of his performance was due to the fact that this year he was wearing new shoes and, at the press conference before the tournament held from Thursday to Sunday at the Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma (United States.) , he explained: “I have a fairly large arch in my right foot., where I have a lot of problems. Having different leg lengths, I wear an inch and a half lift insole on my right foot, and that means when I wear normal shoes that are too high for the ankle and I lose stability “.

“If you look at my shoes, the right one is a bit higher for that, to help the ankle. Also to distribute the weight properly. It’s a bit different shoes inside to make some easier for me. thing using the swing, “added number two. of world golf.

“I remember when we were young we went to the shoemaker, they cut the shoe, they put a centimeter and a half rise and glued the sole. When I won the Spanish Championship in La Rábida, you can see in the pictures the a centimeter and a half heel in the right shoes. These are things I’ve been doing for a long time, but at this point these (shoes) helped, “he said.

“Last year I played with a flat shoe where I could make a good swing, but I played with a bit of pain. And this year I’m super happy.”he concludes about it.

“I learned the fields very quickly”

In reference to the tournament that will start this Thursday, Jon Rahm pointed that out he wasn’t worried he’d never played Southern Hills: “I learned the courses very quickly and my game adapts well to new fields, and that’s why I usually succeed where I haven’t played before. “

“Maybe it’s because of my four years at university, where you had to play 18 holes to learn as much as possible about the course, or because you play you don’t know where the problems are and you agree with it. Everything “Sometimes less is more,” he added.

When asked if his recent success in Mexico Openthree weeks ago, giving him the confidence he lacked to face this ‘big’, Rahm said: “I don’t know if I need more confidence, but win is win., obviously, and it’s a good (win). It’s not my best year so far, but I’ve had some great results. “

Furthermore, Rahm explained that “ultimately, the big ones are the toughest tournament of the year.” “The fields we played on were very complex,” he said.

“When you train for a big course and then go to a course like the Mexico Open (Vidanta), where from tee to green is not much of a problem, it frees you up a bit and you start playing beautiful shots. It’s not going to be any easier, but it’s like you’ve been psyched for that fight“, he commented.

“There are a lot of cases of people being stressed so hard before a big and after a big they start to win,” he said.

“We’re all glad Tiger is here”

Regarding the presence in Tulsa of American Tiger Woods, winner of 15 majors, Biscayan explained: “We’re all glad Tiger is here and he’s back to competing in the majors after over a year of not playing. I really enjoyed playing him in the final round at Augusta (at the Masters). This is Tiger; He is a competitor and he comes out to win every tournament.

He also pointed to the absence of the current tournament champion, the American Phil Michaelsonsaying, “Phil will do what Phil should do. He’s a good friend. I can no longer remember when was the last time a champion didn’t defend a major title. He will do what is best for her“.

Mickelson’s last tournament on the PGA Tour was at the Farmers Insurance Open in January, where he missed the cut. His self-imposed break began after he called the circuit’s “greed” “more than despicable.” The reactions it generated against the golfer caused some sponsors to end their relationships with the 45-time PGA Tour winner, including company Callaway, which put their association “on pause.” .

Mickelson is signed up to play in the first tournament of the LIV Golf series, in London from June 9-11. The PGA Tour recently denied players permission to play on the Saudi -funded tour.

“He has to make the decision that he thinks is best for him. And, as a friend, the only thing I can do is support him. But I didn’t paint much on that matter,” Rahm added about the loss. by Mickelson.

“In the Southern Hills you have to do everything right”

“It’s a long, difficult field … It is not the narrowest in the world, but its vegetables are small. If you miss the fairway, the Bermuda grass rough will leave you with little control and you will have few options to go with the flag ”, he narrated.

“Even putting it on the green would be a success. It’s a difficult course and it seems in recent years very few people are usually playing under par, especially because of the wind that can be there. Everything has to be done. properly, from tee to green, the game short, scaffolding … “, he added.

Rahm believes that in Tulsa “everything should be okay.” “If you miss something, the other part of the game has to be on the very high way. If you miss the greens, you have to putt; if you miss the fairways, you have to approach and putt … A little at all. It’s going to be a struggle, but it’s a field I like and that’s good for my game“, he was affected.

“Alcaraz is on the right track”

Rahm was also asked about the emerging figure, albeit in tennis, of his countryman Carlos Alcarazwhere he said: “I never saw him play. I heard what you did, and I saw your results, which were impressive. you are on the right track“.

“Historically, Spain has had very good tennis players. It has good references, like Rafa (Nadal) … He is having a good start and I hope he can continue as others have done,” he added.

“It’s another sport. It’s hard to give general advice. I don’t know how it is in tennis, but in golf, there are a lot of players who attend the PGA Tour and think they need to change things … It is best to continue with your activities. No need to make a 180 degree shift. Keep confident in yourself, keep practicing and the results will come. “