Jon Rahm is widely considered to be one of the finest golfers of his generation, having already won two major titles and nine other events on the PGA Tour.
Jon Rahm was a huge signing for LIV Golf in December 2023. At the time, he was the current Masters champion, while he had helped lead Europe to Ryder Cup glory in Rome.
In fact, Rahm is the first European to ever win both the US Open and the Masters. And he went on to win the individual title during his first season on LIV. So he is not struggling to come up with options when it comes to the greatest shots of his career.
But it turns out that Rahm feels a sense of sadness over what he would consider to be the best he has ever hit.
Why Jon Rahm is unhappy with the ‘greatest’ shot of his career
Rahm’s win at the 2020 Memorial was extremely comfortable, as he finished three shots clear of Ryan Palmer at Muirfield Village. However, he clearly feels that the margin of victory should have been even greater.
The 30-year-old already had the tournament all but wrapped up when he faced what appeared to be a tricky chip from the rough on the 16th hole of the final round. However, Rahm was able to produce a stunning piece of magic to hole the shot and make a birdie.
Unfortunately, one camera angle had shown the ball move ever so slightly while Rahm’s club was addressing the ball.
The two-shot penalty – which Rahm only received after the round – was not enough to deny him the victory.
However, speaking on the Fore Play Podcast in 2023, Rahm shared how upsetting it remains to have had that moment spoiled.
“Obviously, Memorial, I’m still p—–. Probably the greatest shot I’ll ever hit in my career until now, and it’s never talked about, and it’s tainted because my ball moved when I wasn’t even looking down. I was looking up when that happened,” he said.
“My only issue when something like that happens, first of all, it has to be visible to the human eye, and I had myself, my caddie, Ryan Palmer and his caddie close enough to all see it if that happened. Because I drew a pretty good lie, so if it’s moving, you’re going to see it. And nobody saw anything.
“It was a 4K camera zoomed up, and you see it move ever so slightly. So according to the rules, that shouldn’t be a penalty. Now if you’re going to give me a penalty, don’t wait til I’m done, because then it’s covering your a– and putting me in a bad light. Tell me on 17 so it still matters.”
How Jon Rahm reacted to learning of a possibility of a penalty at The Memorial
It appears that the frustration within Rahm had built up over time. He looked completely shocked when informed of the possibility of receiving a penalty shortly after finishing his round.
Nevertheless, he suggested that he was ready to accept the verdict if it was found that he deserved the penalty.
“Not at all, I did not see or feel anything. If it did [move], it is what it is. If it is a penalty stroke, it is a penalty stroke, but it still doesn’t take anything from the shot. Had I seen it, I would have said. I just never did,” he said.
It is a shame that that moment comes to mind with Rahm. That victory that week actually took him to world number one, making him only the second Spaniard to reach the summit after Seve Ballesteros.
But you can understand the disappointment when the scorecard shows a bogey on the hole where he hit what he considers to be the best shot of his career.
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