Jon Rahm could also be recognized for his composure underneath strain however the Spaniard who joined LIV Golf eight months after his 2023 Masters triumph acknowledged on Tuesday feeling nervous concerning the speech he’ll give throughout subsequent month’s Champions Dinner.
As is custom, the reigning Masters champion delivers a speech throughout an unique dinner reserved for previous winners of the most important and held inside Augusta Nationwide’s clubhouse on the Tuesday night of the match week.
Rahm, who overcame a two-shot deficit within the last spherical of the 2023 Masters to seize the largest win of his profession and in December accepted a reported $300 million to hitch LIV Golf, understands the magnitude of the event.
“Once I inform you that this has positively been hire free in my head — I often haven’t any points public talking. No downside. I’ll stand up there and discuss something,” Rahm informed reporters throughout a video name organised by Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership.
“Simply the picture of standing up and having all people in that room take a look at me and having to talk to all these nice champions, it’s fairly daunting.”
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Whereas Rahm did reveal his menu selections for the Champions Dinner — a Spanish feast that can embody “Mama Rahm’s Basic Lentil Stew” — the twice main winner has not but deliberate what his speech might be about.
“I feel I’m simply going to talk from the center, and that’s often what delivers the higher speech. It’s positively not going to be ready,” stated Rahm.
“I don’t know precisely what I’m going to say, however hopefully one or two glasses of wine assist me get a little bit bit extra fluid in that speech.”
On the April 11-14 Masters, Rahm will attempt to develop into solely the fourth participant to retain a Masters title and the primary since Tiger Woods achieved the feat in 2001-02.
Rahm has recorded top-10 finishes in his 4 LIV Golf begins this 12 months and whereas he’s feeling good about his recreation he’s simply as keen to check it towards all the highest gamers.
“Thus far, it’s been nice. Been enjoying good golf,” stated Rahm, who plans to go to Augusta Nationwide subsequent week and familiarise himself once more with the pristine format.
“However I’m positively trying ahead to becoming a member of with the remainder of the very best golfers on this planet and teeing it up on the Masters with them.”
His determination to hitch LIV Golf meant Rahm missed out on title defences this 12 months at three PGA Tour occasions — The Sentry Event of Champions, American Specific and Genesis Invitational.
“I’m not going to lie; for everyone who stated this may be simple, some issues have been, however not with the ability to defend some titles that imply quite a bit to me hasn’t,” stated Rahm.
“It’s finished. It’s previous. It’s a choice I made, and I’m comfy with it. However I’m hoping I can come again, and hopefully I can really (efficiently) defend (the Masters title subsequent month) as properly. That will be a dream come true.”