“Same as any other golf tournament in the world, yeah,” the 2023 champ said.

He may have changed his opinion on that matter two days later, as the Spaniard finished with a one-over total following rounds of 73 and 68 on the weekend at Augusta National. His T-38 finish marks his second worst in this golf tournament in 10 tries, the worst being his T-45 the year after his victory. Both of those results have come post-LIV signing in February of 2024.

Rahm, who hit less than 60 percent of his greens this week, did not specifically point to the LIV schedule, or any of its venues, as the reason for his down week. But he did point to the fact he seemed underprepared for the firm and fast conditions.

“Definitely some things I’m going change going forward,” Rahm said. “Preparation-wise and what to do. But it’s hard to say how much I learned because I don’t think we ever seen a Masters this firm and I don’t know how long it’s going to be until we do again. Both off the tee and on the greens.”

The two-time major champion then got one more thing off his chest.

“Have you ever seen looking down the property how yellow the patron areas and how brown and purple parts of the greens and fairways are?” he said. “It will be a long time until we see it like this. Definitely have some things in mind for future editions where it gets to this level.”

What things, Rahm did not expand on. All he added was that he learned exactly what not to do when Augusta plays the way it did this week.

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Earlier this year eight LIV Golf members reached a deal with the DP World Tour to allow the members of the Saudi-backed circuit to play on both leagues. However, Rahm’s name was absent from that group, as he declined to meet the conditions of the deal, which stipulated paying fines and participating in six DP World Tour events.

“I don’t know what game they’re [DP World Tour] trying to play right now,” Rahm said in February at the deal, “but it just seems like in a way … they’re using our impact in tournaments and fining us and trying to benefit both ways from what we have to offer. It’s just in a way they’re extorting players like myself, and young players that have nothing to do with the politics of the game. So I don’t like the situation and I’m not going to agree to that.”

Last month, Rahm dropped his appeal, seemingly putting his Ryder Cup eligibility for 2027 in doubt as European players must be members in good standing with the DP World Tour.

But, speaking to the media Tuesday at Augusta National, Rahm said he believes he will still be on the team.

“We keep talking about the DP World Tour and trying to figure out a solution that works best,” Rahm said. “I didn’t think that going the legal route and going to court was good for anybody. So I have faith in us and the DP World Tour we’re going to find a good solution for both of us.”

Rahm was asked if he was confident he’ll be at Adare Manor in Ireland next fall for the biennial competition, to which he replied “Yes.” Later, after another follow-up on the subject, Rahm said he didn’t think it was appropriate speaking about the subject during Masters week, yet expressed he has held up his side of the bargain.

“I think I already have,” Rahm said, about the idea of a compromise. “We’ve already told them many times. I just don’t know, so I think this is not the week to be talking about this, this being the first major of the year and how important this is for the game of golf in general and for all of us.

“We keep talking to them, and we keep trying to negotiate. I have given in quite a bit in a few things, which I think I made — I talked about on my last press conference. We’re going to work it out. It’s going to work out. As of now, the DP World Tour is doing what they need to do and following the channels they need to follow, but I’m confident this will be sorted out before I tee it up in September.”

Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are the only LIV Golf members who have competed for the European team during professional golf’s schism. Rahm is currently atop LIV’s individual standings with a win and three seconds in first starts this year, and enters the week 30th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

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