Forget the algorithms.
Rely on the eye test and sizable soul of Jon Rahm, who believes himself to be the best player in the game at the moment, regardless of what the Official World Golf Ranking says.
The rankings have Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Cam Smith and Patrick Cantlay ranked ahead of Rahm, whose victory Sunday in the Sentry Tournament of Champions was as impressive as it was unlikely.
It was Rahm’s third victory in his last four worldwide starts, including the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Go all the way back to the FedEx St. Jude Championship in August and Rahm has finished outside the top eight just once in nine starts. When a T16 at the Tour Championship is the low water mark, the river’s running deep.
“I feel like since August I’ve been the best player in the world, I feel like, and I think a lot of us should feel like a lot of times we’re the best. Earlier in the year clearly Scottie was that player, then Rory was that player, and I feel like right now it’s been me,” Rahm said Sunday after shooting a final-round 63 to seize his eighth PGA Tour trophy when Collin Morikawa lost his grip on his game.
Getting back to No. 1 in the world is a goal of Rahm’s. He’s held the top spot four different times for a total of 43 weeks, surrendering the spot last March to Scheffler, who has since been replaced by McIlroy. It matters enough to Rahm that he knows had the OWGR not tweaked its formula last year he would be a good week away from supplanting McIlroy.
“I want to be back up there because it’s something you want to do, obviously. But you need to play good and win tournaments, nobody’s going to give it to you,” Rahm said.
Rahm is a brilliant blend of old-school style and the modern game. He plays aggressively, trusting his swing to rip drivers where others might back off, using his skill off the tee as a weapon. Having improved his short-iron play and especially his putting, Rahm is playing doubt-free golf and the results show it.
In the same way, the confidence Morikawa built over three flawless days at the Plantation Course fell away like a sand castle with high tide rolling in. He couldn’t stop what was happening to him and suddenly there is a new narrative surrounding Morikawa, who has lost a five-shot and a six-shot, 54-hole lead since his last PGA Tour victory.
“I’ve been where he’s been before. I’ve made a mess of a round before, especially in amateur golf,” Rahm said. “I’ve done it before. I think we’ve all been there. You don’t want to see that happen really ever. You want to beat everybody at their best.
“But if the best Collin had shown up (Sunday) I wouldn’t have won. That’s all I can say. So I always wish the best for everybody, but at this moment it’s something – not that he needs to learn a lot more from golf, because we all know what he’s capable of, but it’s something he’s going to learn a lot from.”
“I’m not going to lie. Had I shot 60-under par in two starts here and not won either one of them, that would have been a hard pill to swallow.” – Jon Rahm
Rahm seems to know his game as well as anyone playing. He doesn’t win every week but puts himself in position to contend virtually every week.
Just a few days into January, if you are looking for a player on the cusp of a massive season, Rahm might be the one.
“It doesn’t really feel that different to earlier (last) year. It’s just the results I felt like I could produce just hadn’t come yet,” Rahm said.
“But if you look at numbers, I think the main difference is I have been a bit more accurate on my approach shots but mainly making putts. I got a lot more comfortable with my putting. And, again, the last four or five months my putting has been about as good as it’s ever been.”
It’s still a small sample but Rahm’s numbers back up his confidence. He leads the tour in strokes gained off the tee, is fourth in strokes gained around the greens and 18th in strokes gained putting.
Asked if his game is as good now as when he won the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines – a place where he will be the logical favorite in two weeks at the Farmers Insurance Open – Rahm isn’t ready to go that far.
“I can tell you I was much more comfortable with my swing at the U.S. Open than I have been in all the wins since. Not that I’m uncomfortable, I’m just saying I was very in command of my game that week and very, very comfortable, especially on that golf course,” Rahm said.
While it’s true that the Plantation Course is the gift that keeps giving to players who are making birdies, shooting 60-under par there over the past two Sentry events is a head-shaking accomplishment. Without Morikawa’s collapse, Rahm might have left Maui without a trophy either year.
The thought crossed Rahm’s mind as he leaned over his birdie putt on the 18th hole Sunday. He didn’t want to leave any sliver of light for Morikawa.
“I’m not going to lie. Had I shot 60-under par in two starts here and not won either one of them, that would have been a hard pill to swallow. Something just doesn’t register to say that to do that well and lose both times,” Rahm said.
What might have been.
For Morikawa, too.