Sam Greenwood
There remains so much uncertainty about the future of professional golf, but, for Jon Rahm, one thing remains very clear. No matter where the sport goes from here, he will need to go to the bathroom numerous times while playing it.
Rahm’s playing partner on Sunday at the Masters, Brooks Koepka, alluded to this when explaining that the Spaniard took seven bathroom breaks during the final round. Despite this, Rahm and Koepka still found themselves waiting on each tee box behind the penultimate pairing of Patrick Cantlay and Viktor Hovland.
Relieving himself is, apparently, a topic Rahm is quite passionate about. Speaking on Tuesday ahead of the FedEx St Jude Championship, the first leg of the playoffs, Rahm was asked a number of questions about the future of pro golf, where it’s going and what he’d do to fix it. One reporter asked him specifically to name the “one change” he’d make to the tour, and absolutely nothing will prepare you for the first thing that popped into Rahm’s mind.
Every other pro golfer: "bigger purses would be pretty nice"
Jon Rahm: pic.twitter.com/2xgvHVdiPy
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) August 8, 2023
“I can tell you right now my priorities are a lot lower than what a lot of people would think,” he said. “If I have to — if I go by request — I know this is going to sound very stupid, but as simple as having a … Porta Potty on every hole — I know it sounds crazy, but I can’t choose when I have to go to the bathroom. I’ve told the tour this many times, as simple as that.”
Yup. More. Porta. Potties.
He’s a simple man. While everyone’s clamouring for more money, a European swing, better fields at better venues, Rahm just wants a private place to go when he’s gotta go. Have to respect it.
He did, of course, have a few other suggestions.
“Those TPC events, because the PGA Tour is more involved, our food situation is unbelievable,” he added. “They have nutritionists that they’ve hired to work with and the options and the sources are incredible, so I would like to see that more across the board at every single tour event.
“I would like to see physio areas to be a little bit better. Even though the gym trailer is great, it’s still a trailer, so when you have three people in it you’re a little crowded, so seeing better workout facilities, as well. Those are kind of things that I hope come out throughout this whole thing. I’ve mentioned many times making the tour better for the players, and I mean that. The very basic things they can do in tournaments to make them all as good as they can be is where I’d like to see some changes. Everything else can come out afterwards, but I’m not so worried about purses and bonuses and those things. I think giving us the best amenities possible is one of those things that should be a concern. That’s at least a lot of things I keep going to with them. It’s not usually what’s in people’s minds.”
All fair suggestions. But the discussion starts and ends with more Porta Potties. Priorities, folks.