WM PHOENIX OPEN

February 10, 2023

Jon Rahm

TPC Scottsdale

Quick Quotes

Q. Max was just in here saying how impressed he was with your ball striking and still some shots that looked really good were ending up in bad spots. Are you enjoying how challenging it's playing out there?

JON RAHM: Did Max say that about himself or about me?

Q. About you.

JON RAHM: I played really good. I hit a lot of great tee shots out there today. A lot of good iron shots that, like you just said, that didn't end up in great spots.

I think 7, 8, 9 is a clear example of it. None of those was bad. All of 'em were off the green and I needed to get up-and-down to get the round going.

It's golf and it's what happens out here. The wind was shifting. When it shifts from east to east northeast or northeast, it's a small difference on the compass, but when it comes to our shots it's the difference between a shot being possibly into the wind to downwind.

So it can happen. You get a wrong gust. The greens were a little bit softer today in some spots. Except 3 and 12 that were absolute cart path. So these are all things to take into consideration.

It's funny, Adam told me, You want to do anything after the round? And I said, Absolutely not. I'm making a lot of good swings out there and I'm going to remember that. Where they end up is to most of the extent out of my control.

Q. The broadcast caught you and Adam talking about new wedges and playing a little bit of extra spin. What's your process with that and how often do you switch wedges?

JON RAHM: Well, firm greens so -- it's only the 60 degree wedge. I forgot when he said that. Might have been on 15. Early this morning. It makes a difference if you're trying to skip it up there. Just got to be aware of where the spin, how much spin I need on a shot.

He said it yesterday as well on 6. Something I only think about when it's an absolute brand new wedge that I got Monday afternoon.

I don't change that often, but when the forecast is to have firm greens I like to have a new one just in case.

Q. There's a lot that's made out of you and Rory right now. 1 or 1A. Two best players in the world.

JON RAHM: Well, it's 1 and 3. So.

Q. Curious, moments in your life you've been No. 1. There have been times when Data Golf ranks you No. 1. There's times when you feel like you're No. 1. How do you get to the point where you feel like you're No. 1? What metrics do you pay attention to or anything at all?

JON RAHM: Listen, you can find a criteria or algorithm that's going to make me No. 1 at any given point. I feel like I've been No. 1 and I wasn't playing as good as I am right now.

So it doesn't really matter. You got keep doing it. Yes, I've been playing great golf. But Rory has also won three of his last eight starts, so it makes sense that he stays up there. Scottie did enough last year to stay up there. He's been playing great. He hasn't won, but he's been up there. That still racks up points.

So I feel like I'm playing great. I feel like, again, if I'm not the best I'm one of the best. Just because I have been playing good and I'm confident on myself. But I don't get too much in that discussion. A lot of what we say about the ranking is more for fun than anything else.

Q. Does the idea of designated events happening more often, more chances to play against your competition for being No. 1, it gives you more opportunities to make a statement than maybe years past?

JON RAHM: I think if somebody, hopefully me, gets a chance to get that No. 1 and keep it throughout this whole year, with all these big elevated events, where we're going to have the most amount of points for this many events in a row it will be probably, not the most well deserved, but one to be really proud of. Just because we never had this many fields this strong that we're going to have in a row. So if somebody can get up there and keep it it's because they have played really good golf and they truly are a well-deserved No. 1.

Now with that said, you could also see that, you know, we have seven different guys being No. 1 because it can happen with the amount of points that you can earn in those tournaments.

Q. You mentioned Scottie. What goes through your mind today when you're having that stretch of birdieing almost every hole and you look up and he's doing the same, kind of sticking there with you?

JON RAHM: Kind of related to what I just said. We have 18 of the top 20 players in the world. You can expect a few of us to be doing that. Some of those hadn't teed off yet. So I wouldn't be shocked if I'm -- if Scottie isn't leading, if he finishes at 9, if he isn't leading at the end of the day.

Yes, conditions can be difficult, but it's the best players in the world. Somebody can come out there and shoot a low one. So, no, I'm not surprised.

Q. What was that moment like with your mom and grandma there on 16?

JON RAHM: Unexpected. Very unexpected. I'm glad I didn't know until I hit the shot, honestly, because otherwise I think I would have tried too hard for my grandma to hit a good shot.

Not the easiest 16th hole. Usually it's down off the right. Today it was into off the left. So I'm glad I hit that great shot for them.

And I was happy to see. Again, it's an unexpected happiness moment to see them there. It was only there -- I had a couple friends that were inside the ropes, obviously a couple other people. I saw Kelley and some other family members before I hit the putt as well.

So it's just, it make it's so much more fun knowing that they're actually there watching. Usually in years past they couldn't do that and you're in the stands and not always watching. So to feel their presence was really cool.

Q. How many events does your grandma typically get to see you in person?

JON RAHM: Not many. I mean, she's going to be 88 years old. So the fact that she came all the way here to watch me at Torrey, a week off and then this week is quite an honor for me, honestly. Then she gets to watch me in the Spanish Open as well. So she will see me in three events this year which is more than usual.

Q. While you guys were out there Tiger announced that he's coming back next week. Just your thoughts ongoing up against him at Riviera?

JON RAHM: He's playing Riv? Nice. Well I didn't know. Great to hear. Great to hear. After all he's gone through. It's incredible that he keeps trying. Spoke to him at Bahamas. Everything he had on his leg and then you add the plantar fasciitis. I really feel for him in that sense.

But I know he's going to keep doing everything he can to still try to win more tournaments. Possibly get that 83rd win. Hopefully, obviously in his mind a major, right? So it's a true honor for all of us. Any time Tiger can be present on the golf course playing makes the tournament even better. So I'm hoping he can play comfortably and I'm hoping he can play well.