Could Jon Rahm miss the cut for the first time in his Masters career?
It’s certainly possible after the 2023 champion shot 6-over 78 in a birdie-less opening round at Augusta.
Rahm’s 78 tied his highest-scoring round in a major. The 31-year-old Spaniard shot the same number during the first round of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock in 2018 and then a month later on Friday of the Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Links.
He opened Thursday with bogeys on two of his first three holes, and made matters worse by making bogey again at the par-3 sixth hole and the par-4 ninth.
Rahm, who, in addition to his victory, has finished inside the top 10 at Augusta in 2018, 2020 and 2021, double bogeyed the par-5 13th to further drop down the Masters leaderboard.
“I still don’t know what happened, honestly. To get so lucky off the tee, to have an 8-iron in my hand, I don’t know, that ball came out 20 -- about 10 yards left, 20 feet higher, and hooking in a way that I didn’t expect,” he told reporters after the round. “To make such a mistake from what could have been a good birdie look, it’s a big problem.”
“It’s probably the part I’m the most upset at today. On that hole, you know, I’m 4-over. If I put it on the green, two-putt, 3-over,” he added. “Still not good, but a little bit more manageable, right? That was very a possible three-shot swing after how lucky I got off the tee.”
Rahm will wake up T-73 on Friday when he goes off early in a featured group with Chris Gotterup and Ludvig Åberg at 9:43 a.m. local time.
Rahm, who said Tuesday that he is confident a deal with the DP World Tour will be reached to ensure his Ryder Cup eligibility, recently withdrew his appeal DP World Tour-imposed sanctions for playing conflicting events.
That moved avoided a court battle and a reported $3 million fine, but left a pretty public showdown between the circuit and one of Team Europe’s most valuable players.
And, of course, there’s the lingering question of when will such a deal be struck?
Only eligible DP World Tour members are allowed to compete for the European side in the Ryder Cup.
For Rahm, one of the LIV circuit’s two premier stars, the opening round at Thursday’s Masters does nothing to quell the chatter that surrounds the former world No. 1.