Jon Rahm entered the 2026 Masters at Augusta National with high expectations, widely regarded as one of the favorites. However, he departed with a mix of disappointment and reflections on his performance.
On Sunday, as Rahm stood at the 17th fairway, he aimed for the pin and struck an approach shot that had him calling out, "Go! Go!" The ball found the green but then rolled off the edge and back into the fairway—a moment that encapsulated his tumultuous week. "What the hell?" he muttered in disbelief as he surveyed the situation.
Rahm's year leading up to the Masters showcased promise. With finishes of 2-2-1-5-2 in the LIV Golf circuit, and various strokes gained metrics indicating his game was on point, he seemed primed to contend once again. Yet, his major tournament record since switching to LIV Golf has been perplexing; in seven major starts over the last two seasons, Rahm has not captured a title.
His training appeared fruitful after fixing a swing issue that plagued him during 2025, where he found little success on the course. This led him to believe he could make a significant impact at Augusta.
But Thursday brought troubling signs as he carded an uncharacteristic six-over 78 with no birdies, leaving him considerably behind the leaders. "It’s a hard golf course," Rahm said post-round. "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." This struggle continued into Friday; however, he managed a two-under 70, allowing him to make the cut, albeit sitting 16 strokes behind Rory McIlroy.
As he approached the weekend, Rahm maintained perspective on his performance: "Golf is golf," he remarked, downplaying the speculation about his inability to compete in majors. He identified an "anomaly" in his swing as the catalyst for his initial struggles, commenting, "If I knew the why [I haven’t contended], two things: probably not going to say it right now, and I would have tried to avoid it if I knew the why I played the way I played so far."
Finally, on Sunday, Rahm played alongside Sergio Garcia, showing signs of improvement early in his final round. He shot a strong front nine of 32, including five birdies. Rahm felt revitalized, admitting, "Played really good today. Felt like I played actually significantly better than yesterday, just little margins."
Despite some bogeys and a final round that demonstrated resilience, Rahm acknowledged a need for future changes. "Definitely some things I’m going to change going forward. Preparation-wise and what to do," he admitted.
As he stood on the 18th tee, his final drive veered toward the fairway bunker. He urged his ball to find a better lie as it soared through the air, only to land in a troublesome spot. After a lengthy putt that fell short of the hole, he tapped in for a bogey, finishing at even par.
Reflecting on his week, Rahm displayed a mix of frustration and clarity. The tournament underscored the challenges of maintaining performance at the highest levels, especially for those with legacies to uphold. With the next major on the horizon, Rahm will be looking to reassess and regroup in hopes of breaking through at the PGA Championship next month.
As the golf world watches the fallout from Augusta, it remains to be seen how Rahm will adapt and respond to this latest setback in his quest for major victories.