Rahm Shrugs Off World Ranking Slide Ahead of Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Jon Rahm enters Masters week ranked No. 80 in the Official World Golf Ranking, a stunning position for the defending champion that even he finds darkly humorous.
“Am I out of the top 100 yet?” he quipped. “A couple weeks to go and I’ll be gone.”
He’s not wrong. Since joining LIV Golf in late 2023, Rahm hasn’t been able to earn world ranking points through the Saudi-backed circuit, which abandoned its bid to secure OWGR recognition. His only opportunities to improve his position come through majors and DP World Tour events.
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But in today’s fractured golf landscape, traditional rankings tell only part of the story. Rahm sits at No. 4 in Data Golf’s rankings, which analyze all tournament results and statistics. He’s also never finished outside the top 10 in any LIV event over the past 14 months.
“I would still undoubtedly consider myself a top-10 player in the world,” Rahm said. “But it’s hard to tell nowadays.”
Last year’s major performances didn’t help his case. After entering the 2023 Masters ranked third globally, Rahm tied for 45th in his title defense, missed the cut at the PGA Championship, and withdrew from the U.S. Open with a toe injury. His T7 at The Open provided his only major bright spot.
These disappointing major showings fueled speculation that his tour switch had compromised his competitive edge, despite winning two LIV titles and claiming the league’s individual championship.
“I think last year the state of my game was being unfairly judged based on how I played here and the PGA compared to how I really played throughout the whole year,” he said. “While I understand why, I don’t think it was the most fair state of my game.”
Consistency has always been Rahm’s calling card. “Top-10 statistics is something I’ve always prided myself on. Right before joining LIV, I think I was still close to 50 percent worldwide in all my starts finishing top 10, which is something I pride myself on.”
What’s different now? Rahm admits he never felt completely comfortable with his swing last season, a struggle that actually began in summer 2023 before his LIV move.
“That’s possibly why, on the bigger stages when it was difficult, like here or the PGA, I didn’t play my best golf,” he explained.
But as he prepares for his first major of 2024, Rahm’s confidence has returned.
“Feeling good. Feeling very good,” he said. “Feeling really, really good about this year in general.”
