Jon Rahm has admitted it would be a “great story” if any of the 13 LIV players heading to the Masters can come out on top at Augusta National.
The defending Masters champion will play in his first major championship since his sudden departure from the PGA Tour last year when he signed a $500 million deal with the Saudi-backed breakout circuit.
LIV boss Greg Norman made it clear 12 months ago that there would be a wild party on Augusta’s 18th green if one of his players managed to win golf’s most famous title.
The final LIV event before the Masters in Miami this week showed Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Sergio Garcia and others ready to battle Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy for the Green Jacket.
When asked how it felt to represent a small group of LIV players on the biggest stage next week, Rahm admitted he wasn’t thinking about it, but said a win would be huge.
Jon Rahm admitted it would be a ‘great story’ if an LIV golfer can win the Masters next week
Rahm will face Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler at Augusta National next week
The Spaniard said: “I can’t tell you that I’m thinking about the players who should or shouldn’t be there.
“I think I have enough on my plate going into next week and trying to win another one.
“It would be a great story if one of us did it and it would be great to support it, but not that it will stay in my mind, no.”
Rahm warmed up for the defense of his Masters title here in Miami by finishing three shots over winner Dean Burmester and runner-up Sergio Garcia, who needed a two-hole play-off to be separated.
His Legion
Hatton threatened the top of the leaderboard for much of the final day, but fell away after two costly bogeys. He agreed with Rahm that his focus next week will be purely on his game as he tries to win a first major title.
Greg Norman made it clear last year that LIV would celebrate a victory on Augusta’s 18th green
Tyrrell Hatton insists there is no rivalry with their ‘friends’ on various tours at the Masters
The Englishman said: ‘I would say the media is going to make it more LIV, PGA Tour, European Tour, whatever.
“At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter. There are guys who play on those tours who are our friends. We get along well with them.
“But when we go on the golf course, we’re going to do our best to win. With majors it doesn’t matter which “side” you are on. You just do your best.’
Next week, Rahm will also face Scheffler and McIlroy, with whom he has been locked in a battle for supremacy on the PGA Tour in recent seasons.
When asked if his move to LIV added an extra dimension to their battle at Augusta, Rahm said, “The Masters is the Masters.
‘I don’t think it makes a difference whether you play the PGA Tour, LIV, European Tour or Sunshine Tour. A major is a major.
‘You could have asked me the same question last year to a number of LIV players. I wouldn’t say anything has been added to it.’