Despite hardly getting any sleep after celebrating his triumph at the Masters on Sunday, world number one Jon Rahm is poised to tee off at the RBC Heritage less than a week later.
Rahm won his second major title by four strokes at Augusta, brushing off challenges from LIV Golf giants Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson. And while he conceded that still exhausted after a “very demanding week”, Rahm opted not to bow out of the RBC Heritage tournament.
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy elected to withdraw after making the cut at the Masters but Rahm has insisted on playing, stating: “If I was one of the kids, I would want to see the recent Masters champion play”.
Speaking ahead of the competition, Rahm reminisced on his triumph and the accompanying celebrations. “I know it’s a few days after the Masters, but it feels a little bit different,” he said.
“I slept horribly. Night after victories, I don’t know whether it’s the adrenaline or whatever it is, I’ve never been able to sleep well at all. The following night, Monday night, I slept wonderfully and yet woke up exhausted.
“It’s getting better every day. It was a really tough week, a lot going on with the weather and a lot of fighting and a lot of work ment
He also stated he had consider dropping out of the competition, but opted against it after chatting with his wife Kelley. “It did cross my mind, but I made a commitment earlier in the year, and I want to honour that commitment,” he continued.
“I also, talking to Kelley, I placed myself in the shoes of not just the spectators, but the kids as well. If I was one of the youngsters, I would want to watch the recent Masters winner play, good or horrible, simply want to be there.”
And having elected to participate, the Spaniard might win a second jacket in as many weeks with a Heritage Plaid jacket on offer to go with the classic green number he won at the Masters. “I still aim to hopefully complete the jacket double and take this one home, but it did cross my mind [to withdraw] and obviously I believe it would have crossed anybody’s because I was so weary.
“But that’s why I chose to come in yesterday [Tuesday] afternoon and take it slower and just give my body a break before I went into competitive mode. I can assure you that every time I tee it up in a tournament, it’s going to be to win. I aim to do my utmost to win.”
