Full Breakdown
Jon Rahm Faces Uphill Battle After Disappointing Masters Opening Round
4/10/2026, 7:12:46 PM
Disastrous Start at Augusta National
Jon Rahm, the reigning Masters champion, experienced a challenging opening round at the 2026 Masters Tournament, finishing with a six-over-par score of 78. This marked the first time in his career that Rahm failed to make a birdie in a round at The Masters, leaving him tied for 73rd place and 11 shots behind the co-leaders, Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns. Rahm's round included four bogeys and a double bogey on the par-five 13th hole, where he struggled with his approach shot, ultimately leading to a significant setback in his quest to make the cut.
Performance Analysis
Rahm's performance on the greens was particularly concerning, as he lost 3.62 strokes to the field, ranking him among the worst in the tournament for putting. Only Mike Weir and amateur Mateo Pulcini performed worse. His struggles were compounded by a poor start, with bogeys on two of his first three holes and additional bogeys on the sixth and ninth holes. Despite his recent success on the LIV Golf circuit, where he finished in the top two in seven of his last nine events, Rahm's form did not translate to Augusta National.
Official Statements & Responses
After his round, Rahm expressed his frustration, particularly regarding the 13th hole, stating, “I still don’t know what happened, honestly. To get so lucky off the tee, to have an eight iron in my hand... to make such a mistake from what could have been a good birdie look, it’s a big problem.” He acknowledged the difficulty of the course, saying, “It’s a hard golf course... when you have no feel with the swing whatsoever, it’s just not an easy one.”
Criticism & Opposition
Sir Nick Faldo commented on the struggles of Rahm and fellow LIV golfer Bryson DeChambeau, suggesting that their preparation on the LIV circuit may have hindered their performance at Augusta. Faldo noted, “They have just played two tournaments on LIV where Singapore was 25 under to win... This is a completely different mindset where you are making a couple of birdies and hanging on.” This perspective highlights the challenges LIV players face when transitioning to the traditional demands of major tournaments.
What's Next
As Rahm prepares for the second round, he faces an uphill battle to make the cut, which is projected at three-over-par. He has previously demonstrated resilience at The Masters, having recovered from poor starts in past tournaments. However, the pressure is on him to significantly improve his performance to remain in contention for the weekend.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It’s probably the part I’m the most upset at today.” — Jon Rahm, Golfer
- “Some of the players might have been able to manage a respectable round, but when you have no feel with the swing whatsoever, it's just not an easy one.” — Jon Rahm, Golfer
- “I think they have come in with a lot of pressure.” — Sir Nick Faldo, Golfer and Commentator
Jon Rahm's opening round at the Masters serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of golf, particularly in major tournaments. As he looks to bounce back, the golfing world will be watching closely to see if he can overcome this setback.
