THE 153RD OPEN

July 20, 2025

Jon Rahm

Mixed Zone

Q. Reflections on the week, Jon?

JON RAHM: Whole week?

Q. Come on, if you can.

JON RAHM: First day was good, tricky conditions, not the easiest weather, good round. It's just the next three. Besides three holes that I played in the rain, I really couldn't ask for much easier conditions in links golf. So no excuses, just didn't play good enough.

Friday I wish I would have made a few putts. That was probably the biggest difference, just making putts.

On the weekend, again, perfect conditions, just wasn't quite sharp enough in general. Mistakes off the tee that I was able to correct sometimes, but then in general I just didn't have enough close birdie chances. I was always quite far away, and it's never easy to make them.

Q. You came into the week quite optimistic of your chances, having played well out in Spain last week and obviously the good form in recent weeks. Deflating, though? I'm sure you wanted to be right in the mix and have a chance this afternoon.

JON RAHM: You always want to be in the mix. Having been there, playing my 17th hole and I see the final groups playing the first few, it's not demoralizing, but I think deflating is the word. You want to be in there. You want to be competing for major championships.

Did a better job at that earlier this year, majors, especially the PGA, but wasn't meant to be this week. I'm still quite happy with how I've been doing things. The swing does feel better no matter what the score has been showing. So just keep working on that.

Q. Curious on your insights on Scottie. When did you start taking him seriously as a world class player over the last few years?

JON RAHM: Well, he won Phoenix Open, was it 2021, for the first time. He's always been really good. I think it was '20 or '21, and he had an incredible finish, and he finished close to 5th in the FedExCup and started showing really, really good stuff.

In my case, I firsthand got a taste of how good he can be at the Ryder Cup on Whistling that Sunday. I didn't necessarily play bad. I just never really had a chance to win. I think it's after that a lot of his really good play came, right after that year. So '22 on, obviously, when he won the Masters in '22, you have to acknowledge him as a phenomenal player. Even before that, he was already world class.

Q. How hungry are you to close in on Scottie? The stats show that No. 2 in the world is closer to No. 16 in the world than No. 2 in the world is to Scottie. It seems like he's on his own playing at the moment. How hungry are you to close that gap? I'm not talking about World Rankings, but just in terms of what you're putting out on the course, because at the moment it seems, when he's on, he's unbeatable at times.

JON RAHM: Very few players have been able to do what he's done. He's won three majors in three years -- or four years. No, three years. Won nine times last season, and he keeps going on. He's doing what everybody wants to do.

What I keep reminding myself is he was able to turn things around drastically. From not being able to close out early on some of the chances he had to getting it done often. If he's been able to do it, all of us are able to do it.

I've definitely played really high, and I've had my battles against him head to head, and it's always been a lot of fun. I'm optimistic that I can get to that level as well. Obviously it's not easy, but I'm optimistic it can be done.

Q. You said last week in Spain you hadn't given up on the automatic qualification, but comfortable with your standings in terms of getting a pick? Have you had any chats with Luke this week? Has he been around?

JON RAHM: Well, it is a major, so he lets us prepare for the major. I spoke to him earlier in the week. I didn't want to leave any room for doubt. As long as I'm not automatically qualified, there's always a question mark.

Q. There was a few questions for Sergio earlier about the prospect of you two sort of reuniting again, having formed a good partnership in the past. How special would it be if both of you guys could be on the team?

JON RAHM: It would be very special. I'd like to be on the team first myself and then think about somebody else.

Yeah, it would be quite unique. He would be a fantastic guy obviously with his Ryder Cup experience, how he played in the Northeast and actually having played at Bethpage, having played well at Bethpage in the past, so somebody that's familiar with the golf course. He's definitely somebody that should be in Luke's radar.

Played fantastic earlier in the year too. He was playing some extremely high quality golf. Maybe not so much the last six weeks or so. I played with him last week in Valderrama, and he was still striking it beautifully, which is what you need in many aspects of golf in the Ryder Cup. Especially a golf course that difficult, somebody who's hitting it well.

Again, I like to think about myself first in that case. If I get the call that I'm in, then I worry about somebody like Sergio.