THE 152ND OPEN

July 20, 2024

Jon Rahm

Mixed Zone

Q. Can you just talk us through the round. How challenging were the conditions out there?

JON RAHM: It's difficult. I didn't know that it was going to turn as difficult as it did. I thought, from what I saw in the app -- it's hard to do, right -- if the rain came, it wasn't going to be too windy. Man, did it turn quickly.

I played all right. I minimized a lot. That back nine, I played a 1-over and saved a lot of pars. The main thing is with the little bit of rain we had and the no rain the first few holes, I've got to play the first seven holes under par. That's where I'm losing my strokes.

I believe from 9 on I probably gained the most in the field, but I had to make some birdies early on. That bogey on 2 with the 9-iron with the most perfect conditions I can imagine and not birdieing 4 is just giving away a little bit.

It's good playing in general. Then that back nine, I think I played -- me and Marcel played 11 in the worst possible weather, when it rained the most, and it was the most into the wind. To hit as good a drive as I can and have what I believe is 250 to the pin, out of bounds right, gorse left. Not the best visual, but made a great par there.

Unfortunate putt on 12 and just a battle coming in. Hit a lot of really great shots, make a couple pars, that's what you have to hope for, right?

Q. Going into tomorrow now, what are you thinking?

JON RAHM: Right now I'm seven back. I would expect by the end of the day to be a little bit closer. We've seen crazier things. There's still room to dream about a possibly good Sunday and giving it a chance.