Many could have forgiven Jon Rahm for just going through the motions at last week’s RBC Heritage following his Masters win at Augusta National but the Spaniard closed with a bogey-free 68 and a T15 finish.
The Masters champion was in the mix after 36 holes courtesy of a second round 64 after a sluggish opening 72 and weekend rounds of 69 and 68 completed a solid showing given the fatigue he felt throughout the week.
Rahm was proud of his performance and has rightly earned a week off where his green jacket celebrations will begin on Tuesday.
“You know, I can’t help but be proud of what I’ve done this week. To come here, I know the expectations weren’t really high to the public, but in my mind every time I tee it up I’m going to try to do my best. After a shaky first round, to play as good as I have — I played really good on the weekend, I just didn’t make the putts, and give myself a chance to even get close to the top 10, it’s great.
“I didn’t really know what to expect exactly out of myself and how I was going to feel mentally and physically, so I’m proud of the way I pulled through. I’m incredibly proud of finishing with a bogey-free Sunday on a very difficult golf course with that birdie on 18. It’s all smiles for me today, and I’m going to go enjoy my afternoon off.”
Rahm opted against withdrawing from last week’s elevated event because he wanted to put himself in ‘the kids’s shoes’ and having honoured his commitment he was deeply touched by the reception the Hilton Head crowds gave him.
“Yeah, this is leaps past anything that I’ve felt before. Obviously when I go to Spain, I get ovations and I get moments like this in my home country. I don’t get to play there often. But to do it here on U.S. soil and see the recognition from the crowd and the kids, it only validates the decision to come here this week and make them really happy.”
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