Jon Rahm is lagging behind in his quest to win in his home event at LIV Golf Andalucia and he’s passed comment on the current leader, Talor Gooch, after his second round.
Rahm is six back of Gooch as we head towards the final round at Valderrama and the Spaniard knows he has work to do.
Gooch carded a round of five under to build on his two under in round one, while Rahm could only manage a round of one under par.
It means that Rahm needs everything to go in his favour if he’s to catch the American.
Nevertheless, when asked about what it might take for him to reel Gooch in, Rahm is still upbeat.
Jon Rahm says if he can catch Talor Gooch at LIV Golf Andalucia or not
Rahm has very much been one of the stars of the show on LIV since he joined but Talor Gooch has been as consistent as they come as well.
Gooch has won three times on LIV, including two events in a row back in 2023 when he won in Adelaide and Singapore.
Gooch also won in Andalucia that year and according to Rahm, that might well help him in his quest to win a fourth LIV event.
“It’s the same. Anyone can have a bad day. In the end Talor, the type of game he has and the type of ball he has is good for Valderrama,” Rahm said when asked if he was out of contention.
“He has a lot, a lot of quality to be able to keep that ball very stretched out. Low ball, to the drive and to the face (sounds like) which is what is needed here in the headwind. With the greens a little softer with the wind in his favour he does not need to adjust anything. So it’s not that anyone is comfortable, or that someone is comfortable in this place but obviously knowing that they have already won, and they are playing well is someone who is good, well what good options do they have?
“In any case, it is the same. I met Cristian, I also went to 5 or 6 that year, and let’s see if you can cut the distance in half in nine holes. Which is not so much and if in the end I make a couple of birdies I play the front nine well and with which I make a couple of bad swings, the subject changes a lot. It is possible, yes.
“But that’s a bit what I said before. It is more difficult to do a few mornings than for him to do one or two more.”
A fired up Jon Rahm can still catch Talor Gooch
Gooch might feel he just needs to play half decent to be home and dry tomorrow but the fact is that Jon Rahm loves a challenge and if he starts hot, he’ll be right on Gooch’s tail.
At his home course and with fans behind him, it’s the sort of environment that Rahm thrives in and could well be a difference maker.
Six shots sounds a lot but only takes two birdies from Rahm and the same bogeys from Gooch and suddenly it’s two shots and all to play for.
As it stands, Rahm will be a bit of an outsider. But with a few birdies early on and a home crowd roaring him on, expect to see him in the mix come Sunday evening.
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