Subpar - 2023 Masters Champion Jon Rahm goes in depth on his incredible victory and the importance of honoring Seve Ballesteros

Episode Date: April 19, 2023

On this week's episode of GOLF's Subpar, 11-time PGA Tour winner Jon Rahm joins former PGA Tour pro Colt Knost and jicky jack legend Drew Stoltz for an exclusive interview. The 2023 Masters Champion takes us round by round through his victory, shares how important it was to honor Seve Ballesteros and previews what we can expect at next year's Champions Dinner. -- Tee it up on FanDuel this PGA TOUR season! Right now NEW customers can get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS – GUARANTEED when you place a FIVE DOLLAR BET. Go to FanDuel.com/SUBPAR and sign up. That’s FanDuel.com/SUBPAR to get a ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLAR IN BONUS BETS – WIN OR LOSE! FanDuel, ​​Official Betting Operator of the PGA TOUR. Disclaimer: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. $10 Deposit req. Refund issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See full terms at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MI, NJ, OH, PA, IL, TN, VA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), 1-800-522-4700 (WY), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).

Hello world. Welcome back to a very special golf subpar. I'm Colt Nost. He's the sleazy man, Drew Stoltz. We got the champ coming up here very shortly. John Rom picking up his second major title at this year's Masters will be joining us. Can't wait to get to that. But first, we got to talk a little bit about the RBC Heritage out at Harbortown Golf Links where Matt Fitzpatrick took down Jordan Speeth in a playoff. Once again, Sleez, the designated events deliver. They deliver in. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. They had a whole, they had a whole, cut ahead of all the people there virtually all the big boys except for rory they were all there what happened on sunday phenomenal leaderboard shootout between two of the best you get a playoff

it's i think these things are delivering so well right now if i'm on the pjj i'm like why would we change this go back and look at all of them they've been perfect what and my opinion and this was the one right after a major championship so if there's any let down in any of them you would think like oh this will be the one the main guy the big guys they'll be tired from the week is a long week out there with the weather. Maybe we don't see as many of them in the top of the leaderboard. There you go.

They were still there, most of them. Well, Jordan talks about being exhausted with how much golf he had played and everything, but obviously he rallied because that's what professionals do. But this once again proves my point of not getting rid of the cut and going to small fields.

Because heading into the weekend, here we have journeyman, Jimmy Walker, who is a major champion, so I don't like calling him an underdog, but he wasn't an underdog. Yeah, it's been a while. He had a three-shot lead going on the weekend. The only reason he was in the field

is because he took his career money exemption where he would happen to be entering the year number 50. And that is because he moved up nine spots because they took the live guys that went over off the list. So that's the only reason he was still actually playing. He talked about hanging it up, decided to give it one more go. Here he is. He's got the 36-hole lead. Great story in the final group with Scotty Sheffler. Yeah. And that's what twice now we go back to Nick Taylor at Phoenix Open? There's another one. It's like you just eliminate the possibility for all. And look, you still got Spieth and Fitzpatrick in a playoff home run, right?

For everybody. But you got some kind of, exactly, but you got some kind of Cinderella stories in there if you want to call them that. And it's just like, that makes it good. That makes it great. There are guys that are outside that number that could go win one of these things. And it's going to happen. But it's like, if you eliminate that and make it 70, whatever, between 70 and 80 and no cut,

you're going to stop getting these guys. And I just, with the success of how these things have gone up to this point, I would say these things have been awesome. I don't know why you'd want to change it whatsoever. Yeah, I was there on site. And you could tell there was definitely a master's hangover. It was quiet early in the week. The players were tired.

Thursday was a little quiet. Friday, it got a little busier, a little louder. Saturday. You had those monster guys up there. Jimmy Walker leading the way. The weather was perfect. The crowds were unbelievable. The buzz was back and then going into Sunday.

It was rowdy, man. It looked fun. It looked like a frown hang out there. There's some dudes getting after it, getting amongst it. They went out threesomes on Sunday. Pace of play. Not great. Once again, we're getting into that whole deal.

Something's got to change. I don't know what it is. I feel like we have this conversation over and over. It's a broken record. Throw some shots at some dudes and things are going to change. But what was it? 515 for the final group before the playoff. Then they had to go play three playoff holes.

They're out there of six plus hours. It's too much. It's too much golf. Tighten it up. There were some people trolling Patrick Cantley. One guy timed one of his shots. I believe it was on number 11. It was almost three minutes saw it.

There was a four footer where he took a minute to hit. Things have got to change. Maybe our man John Romm could have some solutions to this place. a play problem because he definitely doesn't have a problem he moves so does matt fitzpatrick he goes they all go it's just it's and let's let's say this for sure because patrick can't lay is the one he's the scapego right now he's the one getting all the he ain't the only slow dude on the pj door he's slow he needs to pick it up he ain't the only one he's just playing the best golf of the guys that are very deliberate out there right now saw it at augusta second to last group saw this week

last group so he's taking all the brunt of it but you fast forward an hour go up an hour in the tea times there's some dudes playing slow there too They just don't have the camera on them the whole time. It's not one dude slowing up the entire PJ tour. So the Cantlay hate, he's kind of become the villain behind this. I don't think that's necessarily fair. I do think he needs to pick it up. But there's a lot of dudes that should be feeling the same wrath as him.

They're just not playing as good a golf. And until they do something, Patrick Cantley, don't give a shit. He's going to keep playing. Why would you? Printing money. Yeah. Why would you? But man, congrats to Matt Fitzpatrick.

This is a guy who's totally changed his game. He's picked up so much speed. He went from one of the shortest hitters to now one of the last. longest hitters. You know, I always said he's a guy that'll wear you down over time. Bay Hill when the golf course is extremely hard. Memorial when it's really, really hard. Over four days, he doesn't make a lot of mistakes. He's going to be there. But in those team events, Ryder Cups, he's going up against Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeShambo, name it, the long guys on the USA team. Like, he gets bullied. You know, yeah. It's tough to beat them in an 18-hole sprint,

but with this newfound length, when in the U.S. Open, his confidence is sky high. He's going to be a problem in a lot of these big tournaments coming up and the Rider Cup. Yeah, he's going to be one of the top dogs on the European side. And it's changed from the last time we saw him at Whistling straight. I think that was kind of the catalyst for his whole, dude, that was a big yard. He was like, I got to get longer. I can't go play these guys 18 holes. Yeah, you give me 72 and let me wear him down. Got a chance, but he's done it. He put in the work. And it's worked. And by the way, tip of the cap to Jordan Speath looked like he could have won that thing twice, but he's starting to play some really nice golf. He's back. What is it? His last five events. He's finished outside of the top

for one time and that was the 19th in stroke play yeah not counting the match play he's just i mean just hanging around that rim right now it's it's just a matter of time he's gonna be super popular of it oh kill for the pGA but fun to watch him do it and just fun dude to watch golf it's just wild shit all over the place speaking of wild shit i got to give a little shout out to my man frank nobelow okay you know him and i you know we have a little we have a fun relationship we like to pick on each other on air you know spice up the broadcast a little bit he taught me early on kind of the rule is, you know, you can only make fun of the other person if they're on the same hole and they can respond. That's fair, by the way. You got to have a chance to report. You know,

you do it when, when they're in the dark, it's really not that fair. Well, since then, we've kind of changed it where if, you know, Frank wants to chime in on somebody else is always allowed to. So therefore, you know, it's kind of, it's open season, right? You can just take shots whenever. But he crossed the line this week, okay? You know, I started it off. I was out there. I was a little bored. My group wasn't doing much, so I didn't get to talk too much, but Scotty Sheffler had a nasty lip out for Bertie. And I said, I said, you know, Trevor, over the last two weeks, Scotty Sheffler's burned more edges than Frank has bridges. Sing! You got a little laugh on him there. And he went to commercial and goes, all right, it's on.

So here comes Frank, not saying much. I'm not, I'm not speaking very much during the broadcasts because like I said, my groups were just kind of, they were stuck in neutral. Well, whoever's talking when they get ready to go to commercial sends it to commercial. So it's Frank's all he's talking. I hear sellers say commercial. They show this beautiful drone shot of the harbor. all these massive boats everything going on he's like beautiful harboretown boats galore and colts dingy and that's just how much break let it breathe let it breathe i said i go to we go in commercial we can speak to each other during commercial i go yo that was so far across the line and out of bounds that is not fair and he was chuckling he was so proud of himself one to one one to one so we will

settle this frank get ready anytime you can work in a dingy reference i feel like especially with a name in front of it. Colt's dingy. It's good broadcast. It's good. Good broadcasting. It was a great week out at Harbortown, but I'm so excited for this interview. We got to get to it. We got to get to it. Before that, we got something exciting for all the listeners. Colt. We love golf trips. Suffice it to say, we're big golf trip guys. Cancur? Duh, there's nothing better. Well, if you're thinking about a buddy's trip, couples trip, any kind of golf getaway, make sure you talk to our guys at golf troop.com. That's golf, T-R-O-O-O-P.com. They book packages all over the U.S. get you the best deal for your money, advanced tea times.

Basically, they just dial you in with whatever you want. They handle all the payments so you don't have to go chase down your buddies for the money. Golf Troop has the inside scoop on the best courses, hidden gyms, lodging, everything you want on a golf vacation. And if that's not enough, listen to this. They do a golf giveaway for a sick trip for four golfers every quarter. These trips are awesome. They take places in spots like Innesbrook, True North here in Scottsdale, Vegas, California, Pebble Beach. These are some incredible golf giveaways.

you got to do is visit gulf troop.com slash subpar to sign up for their next trip giveaway you don't got to buy anything all you got to do is sign up for the giveaway that is golf t r oop dot com slash subpar check them out sign up and you could be headed to an amazing golf destination for free colt only thing better than golf trips free golf trips especially to pebble that one's worth a pretty penny i like that you know what else i like master's champs here he is john rome on golf subpar All right, what a show we have here today. We got our first ever guest on golf subpar coming back for his fourth time, this time, with a new addition to the wardrobe. Your 2023 Masters Champion, John Rom, Bigfellow, good to have you back, brother.

Congratulations. What a piece that is, too. Looks good. You got the matching Jays. How crazy is it? We're talking about how you haven't been on in a little bit. It's about time. We were just challenging you a little bit.

We're just making you go out and actually do something to earn coming back on subpar. Yeah. I mean, it wouldn't be, last time I came was the U.S. Open. It wouldn't be right if I don't do it after something big again. You know, having three wins in the season could have been big enough, but I'm glad. I'm glad this word tell this way. For most people, we had had them on after the third, but for you, we were like, let's just wait. Just keep it going.

Something huge is coming, and it did. But thank you for bringing the green jacket, too. How hard is it to get that thing out? Like, it's got rules about its public appearances, yeah? I don't know all the rules. There's a dress code that comes with it. You learn about this quickly when you have to sign documents and things about what you're doing. It's official.

Obviously, we all know the rules around Augusta National, right? And they tell you you're represented Augusta National. The jacket is Augusta National. So at least you can wear his golf attire. That's the worst dress code you can have. So no jeans, no shorts, which I look nice. You look great. You look fantastic.

And got the green roly to match. Exactly. Yeah, this ain't. I feel like I'm worthy of wearing this now. It's, it's complicated. You can't have a public appearance or the jacket can't make, not you, the jacket can't make a public appearance without them knowing. Did I like to be surprised? So they need to give approval for everything.

They need to approve this. I can't be seen. I can't be photographed with a jacket and having alcohol. It just goes on and on and on. So it's a- Wow. I feel flattered that this got the clearance, by the way. Well, we push for it.

There's something that you're more passionate about that others, right? So I'm glad we could do this. Yeah. Next week, you and I might be members. You never know. You never know. I'm expecting that. I'm expecting it.

But seriously, I mean, first off, I want to just, I think it's so cool that you teed it up last week at Harbortown. I love what you said about honoring your commitment. You know, people pay their hard earned money to come watch you play golf. You put yourself in kids' shoes and said, I want to see the Masters champion. You did it. I thought that was so cool of you. What was the reception like last week at Harbortown? It was incredible.

And even before I did my press conference on Tuesday afternoon, because we flew in Tuesday, I went to the range just to hit a few and kind of get in the tournament mindset. And the crowd that was there, the reception was incredible. Like I've never had an ovation for walking into a putting green. I pretty much had it. And it was really, really cool to see. And then afterwards, I'm signing autographs. Like, you see there's a different level of enthusiasm now in that sense, right?

And then on the golf course, every single hall, every single day was, you know, because some of them were obviously seeing me for the first time since the win every single time It was no matter if I hit a good or bad shot, clapping, and congratulating me for the win. And then the 18th hole that we saw, it was incredible. I've gotten ovations like that in Spain, some places in Europe, never in the U.S. So to be acknowledged like that by the U.S. crowd was very, very cool and filling the embrace. So I'm glad it worked that the way it did. I'm glad I went.

I'm happy I played as good as I did because I did not expect to play as good as I did. And to about the first round, I was a little tired otherwise I would have ever. like to, I mean, not content, but if sneaking at top 10, that would have been absolutely incredibly the way. I'm happy it when and at least at the end just shoot 75, 75 and go home and just call it a day. No, it was a solid week. You played really well the last three rounds, but like, you're, you're sitting there at Hilton Head. You got the green jacket. Is it just, is it hung up in the closet, sitting on the chair? Are you drinking coffee in it in the mornings? So this is the second time I put it on since Sunday at Augusta. The next morning I put it on, I don't know why. I don't know

Why? I put it on as a joke. Because you're the master champion. Yeah, because you got a green jacket. That's why. I mean, it was just the next morning, 9 a.m. I was making a joke with Kelly at one of the bathroom and came out with a jacket on, and she was laughing. And then it was when I spoken about this, I saw this golf digest picture. It was, they photoshopped me and Chevy shaking hands on 18.

And I was sitting on the edge of the bed and started bawling instantly. Like, because I had it on and it kind of hit me right in the moment. for the next 30 minutes I was just a blubbery mess it was funny to think about then I took it up and I haven't put it on since till now Was that the moment where

it's such a whirlwind I would imagine for you after it's like Butler Cabin on the Greens all this stuff then you boom straight to Harbor Town interviews all that it was at the moment

where it like hit you like oh my God like this is special yeah that Monday hit me and most people don't know what goes afterwards like you finish I don't know if we finished

at 730 or something like that I didn't leave Augusta National to midnight right and I was an early one to leave apparently you can stay longer if you need to or if you have to so uh you know you have it on but it's like i don't know you forget because there's so many commitments it was just the next thing putting it back on where it was kind of unique right it was like okay i don't have to in this sense but got to enjoy it now that champion's locker room is a very small private place um

who you're going to be sharing a locker with i don't know oh so they said that's a joke it might be a new tradition. I said my dad was there. Kelly was there. And I'm like, this might be the only chance I get to see it. I'm going to push for it. Like, can we go see the champion's locker room? I said yes. I'm like, okay, we went up there. I saw the locker. And obviously, I'm looking around. Ollie and Sergio share a locker. Sevi shares with, with Swartzel. Right? I was like, listen, I can't tell you guys what to do. Can you please put me with the Spanish guys? Like, you know, there's four of us obviously perfectly put us in the, there will be amazing. I don't care if you put me with Ollie, Sergio, Sevi, but I feel like

it's right, right? No offense, Charles, like no offense. But beat it. But like, you know, I thought it would be really cool if it could put me with Sevi, especially with everything I've spoken, right? I don't know how long they maintain the locker after somebody's passed. I don't know if they maintain all of them. I don't know. But it would be really cool to share with the Spanish guys. So I'm hoping, but I don't know how much my word means over there. I'll take whoever I get, obviously. More than most, I would say. More than people that don't have a green jack. Yeah, Charles can go with Gary Player or something.

That would be sweet. Tell me, all right, you win, your phone's exploding. Give me one guy that you heard from that was like surprising, flattering, any of the above. There's a lot of texts. I think the most meaningful one, because I hadn't gotten a message from him like that yet. It was basically a voice message from Rafa Nadal. He is a, he's a good. massive golf fan and he sent me a two-minute voice message.

That was really cool. So only voice memo. Do you guys talk like that? Like, do you reach out to him when he wins a Grand Slam? Yeah, yeah. And he'll respond, but in between not too much. But we know each other is watching. And this time, yeah, this one was really cool.

Well, on our group text, Sleeves reached out in Spanish. How impressed were you with this Spanish? Yeah. Google Translate Copi paste. I need to look up what you said. I tried it first without. I was like this. There's no.

I mean, come on. I'm going to need little help. You all knew. I either said somebody in his family speaks Spanish and I don't think you're going to take the time to do something like that. I tried. You were the only one though. I'm surprised nobody else did it. In Spanish? Yeah, I'm always trying to hobla with you a little bit. Yeah, just a little something. I tried it. I was like, that didn't give you enough. Habla. A hobla, a little piquito. I thought he was trying to speak English. Oh, that's great. It's impossible to type in Spanish because it auto corrects it to English. Yeah. I tried to write where I was like, I'm just going to go translate on this thing. This little nod to you. go into the start of the week because obviously you're playing great leading it you had three

wins on the season already and you get to the first hole i can't help but i laugh because i just the hoblaw no well you was coming but i mean you get to the first hole the masters you're one of the favorites you go out there you got a birdie put on the first and you you four whack it walk away with double boge i mean what what was going through your head walking over to the second team you know this is a hard it's it's it's a complicated thing's a lot to explain but i mean It's such a hard opening hole. Yes. That pin location is not the hardest on the green,

but a five happens way too easily, right? Too easily. And I hit a great three wood, really good eight iron to a good spot. And I'm feeling great, right? Obviously, we all know this is a discrepancy between putting green and coarse, right? There's always a little bit of a difference. And Justin Thomas goes first, hits it four feet short. I'm not, okay, just trust your speed.

It a great looking putt. Look, just going by the hole, and after the hole, hits the down slope it goes to six feet and I'm like well I'll try to make that uh hit another great looking great feeling put misread it and then I see that thing going off to four feet just and finishes and I'm like oh boy that's where you know I mean not do you want to think about it it was like just four or five you don't want to right like you don't want to get up there with the slope behind the hole again just try to hammer and I'm like I don't want to six feet back for double so uh I was like I saw I read it right edge I am just outside the edge and

try to dye it and then went dead straight and well I make me make four put made a double. Clearly not happy, but the first thing I told Adam, and he could tell you this, is every single pot felt good. All of them felt good. And I remember a quote from Jack after a round. I think it was at Agasta where they said, man, you know, you played a great round of golf. You just missed the pot on 15. And he said, I didn't miss it. I hit exactly the way I wanted to. I just misinterpreted. I'm like, kind of popped into my head, along with Sevi's quote of, I miss, I miss, I make, it happens to everybody. So after that, I'm still upset, obviously, because I made a six in a stupid way, but I hit the T-Shad

on two, and I've said this many times, and I'll keep saying it. If you stand in the fairway, if you hit the faraway on seven out of Gaston National, and you're even par, you're in a good spot. You are in a good spot because even if you've already two and three, one, four, five, six are very good chances of bogey. It can happen. So that's where I was thinking. Let's play good.

I made great T-Shad on two, had 10 feet for Eagle, made Birdie, made Birdie on three. I'm even parsed on the fourth D. I mean, I was happy with it. I never thought about anything else, and I made Birdie on 7. So in my mind, in my pace of, basically, on my pace of golf, I was doing good. Never did I think, though, after a double, I was going to end up with seven birdies in an eagle and shoot seven. Yeah, well, 65 with a double. That nine under stretch on the last 17, but this might be a big statement, but best golf

you've ever played? It was that time at Memorial. That's why I'm saying it might be a bit. But also 917 at a major championship, that's a lot. Memorial came to mind. 17 holes. Yeah, for one round. Yes.

That's it. I would say so. Like you hit exactly where you're looking. I would say so because I'm going to add this. There's a narrative that I can't hit a draw. Okay. We're going to get to that. I hit a draw on 10.

Perfect. I hit a draw on 13, perfect. And I had the shots I need on some of the tough t shots on that round as well, along with some other great iron shots and really good putts. Like, legit after that first hole, it was about as easy as I feel like I can walk around Augusta National. So, yeah, I mean, that was really good. The best single round stretch.

Really good. Yeah, I mean, I don't know how you can. What you're going to do to top that unless you're 59 somewhere. No, I mean, hopefully part of the first hole and then do the same thing afterwards. Yeah, that would work. But, yeah, that was. was about as good as he gets. Before we get back to John Rahm, I want to let you know that this episode is brought to you by

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Back to John Rom. You mentioned a lot of people question whether or not you can draw it. A lot of people also questioned when you switched equipment companies. It was a very interesting deal because, Here you are, switching 14 clubs and a ball. Now you have two majors. Have you ever been more confident in what you got in your bag than you do right now? I've always been confident in what I have in my back.

You also got a... I don't want to talk negatively about anybody, and Taylor made a great product as well. But there's also a difference in the person, right? And I think that's the bigger difference. But I did change. I wouldn't just change blindly for obvious for monetary reasons, right? Like, I don't want my career to suffer.

So when I changed and when I did all the testing, I wanted to make sure I could improve. And I saw the opportunity for improvement. And that's what I said. And I mean, right away, we saw it in 2021. I played today the best year of my career winning one and a half tournaments. Yeah, one in three quarters. Yeah, I would say one point in 99. And shooting the lowest score at Tour Championship as well, right?

So I played really good golf and an amazing rider cup. So I felt validated right away. Um, yeah, I mean, I didn't realize. I mean, I don't look at the comments or anything. I didn't think anybody was questioning anything. I think that you're just one of those guys that was winning a lot. You were rising in the world rankings. Then, you know, we've seen equipment changes by people in the past,

but you went over to Callaway. And I would say, I mean, the amount of wins they have so far this year kind of validates their equipment, but you, I don't think I've ever seen you drive the golf ball better. It's been good. Yeah, it's been really good. What people don't know is I made the same. same change basically when I went to tailor-made in college. Didn't hit one Taylor-May club in college up until like my last month and a half when Taylor-May came into the picture and I tried

some of their clubs, right? Before that, I actually have mostly a colorway back. Growing up, I played a lot of colorway as well. So it's not like he was unfamiliar territory, right? It wasn't like I was going blind into something else. And that along with a lot of work, a lot of hours put into it. And I put a lot of time in December trying to make sure this stuff was fit when I went to Carlsbad and got my equipment checked. It's also very reassuring when I come back home with my brand new bag and brand new golf ball. On the first round, I play, I shoot 59. Helpful. Helps.

So I was like, you know what? If I play bad from now on, maybe it's not me or it's not the clubs. It's me, right? So that's kind of, you know, it was a very positive start in that sense. No doubt about it. I want to go, because you got the absolute raw end of the deal. I heard somebody in the press. conference afterwards say what did they say something you perhaps perhaps got the perhaps you

got the wrong side there's a debate to be made that you didn't have the easier way i'll just say that that was so funny there's a debate the amount of eye rolls i saw yeah when he said perhaps yeah one could debate you didn't have the good end of the draw that's when i said like perhaps really you think there's any doubt it was snowing two and a half shot snowing and pounding was it I think it was two and a half. I think it was two and a half. For you, I mean,

you're right there in the mix. Going into the weekend, like, how do you stay like, okay, I'm right there and yet I got absolutely screwed. I mean, it's just,

obviously it's just part of the game. You can't think about that. See, that's why I'm sitting here and you have that thing on. Yeah, we need what good players think about. I can tell you what I think about.

Well, the thing is, I mean, we're tied with Brooks at the first round. He comes out in perfect where the shoots five under, which he's supposed to do, could have been lower

if you see his round. could have been lower, right? So I'm teeing off and I'm like, well, I got to try to catch up as much as possible. We knew we weren't finishing that day. So, you know, when we left, I was two under. I was at nine. I was in a good spot. And then we came the next morning knowing what we had is more, let's see what we can do

to not really screw the whole tournament up, right, when the rain was coming and all that. I played a really good golf. I mean, there's nothing else you can do but control what you can control, right? I couldn't worry about Brooks when it's 45 and raining sideways. So I can't really do that. How hard were the conditions? Yeah, give us the idea, like what clubs were you were hitting into some of the holes that day versus Thursday when it was perfect? Well, 11, or 11, I mean, I had driver six iron to lay up to the right of the grid.

I was on the trees, though. It was more holes like 14, right? At 14, I hit a pounded driver and hammered 8 iron to a short pin. If I usually hit a driver that good, there's no way I'm hitting more than a pitch and wedge into that hole unless it's into the wind, which it wasn't. Right. And then when it rained, it was 17 and 18. 18. 17 was driver, 6 iron.

Both of them hit as good as I could. 18 was driver, 4 iron. Both of them hit as good as I could. And I didn't even sniff the front of the green. So I was doing the feature groups coverage when y'all were going through there and Justin's drive went 238. I don't remember exactly what yours went, but Justin had a head cover in there. We saw a couple guys hit three wood in 18. I should have hit five wood.

I just, me and Adam were talking about it. We thought that if I could keep that four iron low, there might be a chance of skipping on the white grass. The five wood, God knows where the water ball could have gone. I mean, I was looking at it like if he comes out noically with no spin and you go long, that's going to be a tough eye. So we were okay, we shorted the entire way. That's kind of the thought process behind that. When you went out that day, did you have like a target score in mind or a target like, I don't want to be more than X behind Brooks after this?

Or is it just whole by whole, go plug along? It was weird because it was on and off, right? When we started, it was okay. And then on 11 starts drizzling, 12, 13 were okay. 14, 15 were okay on and off. And then at the end of 16 starts pouring down. So you could make birdies, but it was tough. It was very tough.

I mean, Pars were your friend. And that's basically what I was thinking of. What was Saturday night like for you? Because obviously there's still a lot of golf left. With everything you went through, were you just so worn out after that Saturday? I was tired. Yeah. Yeah.

I mean, because then after that, we go back in the restart and it's raining again, right? We're playing five. I hit driver four iron, both of them perfect to the front edge. I have 100 feet. We're playing seven on the rain. Probably the best two shots I hit on the tournament. Really? The driver on seven, iron on seven, on the pouring rain.

I mean, those are two small targets to eight feet. I was tired, but, I mean, it is the Masters, and knowing that the next day, basically, the Masters is decided, right? I mean, it was also helpful that even though it was four shots back, it was most likely going to be a one-shot swing, right? So I was already going to start with possibly an advantage, whether Brooks made the pot or not always had a chance. So I could start in a positive way and get things going, and I did, right?

So I wasn't really thinking anything about it. Like I didn't think about the pot all night. I was just tired. I wanted to go to bed and rest and get the day started. On a scale of 1 to 10, what would you rate your sleep that night? It was okay. I mean, it was shorter than I would have liked, but it was okay. Are you a good sleeper normally?

Yeah, I sleep right. I sleep better in tournaments than I do at home. All right, question. Which is, I know it's weird. Glass half full scenario, like one of the worst things I would think as a player is, let's say you're in the last group going into Sunday at the Masters. You got to wake up and you got so much time to kill and wait and think before you tee off. The fact that you get out there on Sunday, boom, you start right away.

You got to play 30 holes, but there's no sitting around and waiting. Was that beneficial at all? I mean, you've won a US Open and had to play. But there's so much time, just idle time. Well, I think it helped me because I'd done it the day before. So I just do it again. Just get out there and do it. I knew what to expect.

That would be the perfect way of saying it. So I think in a way, even though you might be a little bit more time. tired, adrenaline carries on. So I think it played in my advantage. And I did. I mean, I started with a four-shot deficit ended at the day, two shots back, which the goal was to close the gap as much as possible.

What do you do, like the U.S. Open, you tee off super late in the afternoon. You wake up, you got tons of time to kill before you're going to start warming up. What do you do? I mean, I usually like watching the broadcast and watching how the courts is playing, play with the kids, you know,

get my mind off of golf if I can. And then when you're getting closer to it, start doing the little things to, you know, maybe do some warm up at home, go to the course, eat lunch, and then start your day, right? I just, I don't go early to the course, some people do and hit some pots at 10 a.m. and then go back. I don't like doing that. I've tried it.

It doesn't really work for me. I'm just home with the family, honestly. Playing with the kids. They do what they need to do. As if it was a Sunday morning at home, and then when you need to get focused into it, I'll do it. But the broadcast might be on the background just to see how, you know, how some holes are playing. and seeing what works in some holes and what doesn't work. That always helps.

And then you and Brooks get going in that final pairing. And, you know, you and I have talked about it off camera many of times. I mean, the amount of times people say you're fiery and all this, it's just we get it. We know it. I thought Sunday in that final round was as cool, calm and collected as I've ever seen John Rom. I would agree with that. Did it feel that way? Yes.

I mean, there's still pressure. Of course. There's still tension. Highest of pressure. Yeah. There's still tension, but I knew I had a goal in mind. I'm like, if I shoot in the 60s today, it was windy. It was not an easy day of golf.

That 65 by Phil and 66 by Jordan were ridiculous scores. With those wind gusts, I said, if I shoot 69 today and get to 12 under, it's a very solid chance. That's a very, very, very solid chance. And that's what I was worried about. I mean, I was basically going shot by shot and trying to do what I could do. I just thought, like, just looking at your face, like, you just, it just seemed, I haven't seen that side of you before. I mean, I was, I think that's part of your maturity as well, but I just knew when I saw that, I was like, there's the man I was going to put the green jacket on. Or you guys could have told me.

Because I keep hearing, it was choice free. It was boring. It was this. Jesus Christ. If I hear that again, I'm going to. Yeah, dude, spice it up. Hit some shitty shots next time. Well, I've heard, oh, yeah.

When you hit that draw on 13, I knew it was over. I'm like, well, call the tournament. Yeah, because I don't want to play anymore. Walk it in, I'm done. Was there a moment, though, on that final round where you felt like the momentum shift? And I don't want to call anybody out, but there is one person who said it was boring Sunday,

like the last five holes I had it won. I'm like, how can you possibly say? No, call them out. That's what we're doing on the show. Yeah, who was it? How can you say? Well, I'm going to do their podcast probably next. Hey, Riggs.

There you go. Yeah. Hey. Well, see, I know Adam, I don't purposely, but not purposely, he did a, Adam, Mike Eddy did a podcast with them and did mention like, oh, you know, it was stressful. It was this.

I don't know if he wanted to say directly at Riggs. I understand what the spectators are saying, but four shots at Agasta National was absolute zero. So it was like, to me, I'm walking down the stretch. It's stressful as hell. Yeah. Like, stressful as hell, like to an extent. And I want to go to, because 12 is the hole that gets all the attention,

obviously. We've seen what's happened with Jordan's beef there with a massive lead there. Yes. What happened to your Tiger 1 in 2019? Take us through y'all's process on number 12 because that was the, first day I thought the wind was really blowing and yeah it could probably make you question where it's coming from a little bit so this is where played in the morning I think helped a lot because when we played in the morning it was very similar conditions just a little

cooler and he was gusting downwind off the left and we all thought when we play the hole it was going to push it right so I went with a nine iron I go with a three-quarter nine iron this is the morning round morning round okay I actually hit a nine-iron in the afternoon too but I go with that club I tug it just a little bit because I don't want it to bleed right and maybe be short and just hits a jet stream up there. And that's the same thing that Scottie Schaeffler did in the afternoon. I mean, it lands on the flowers and then he comes back down. I got lucky there. I mean, most of the time he comes back down. Scotty, I'm sorry. It happened to the state up there, but it came back down. So when we got back there,

I actually, Adam and I were trying to technically hold it on the third round on the morning hole location. Very similar number. We were just on the other T-box. So I was trying to just hit it there. And knowing what I did in the morning, it was the nine iron. I just put it a little bit up on my stance to facilitate a bit more of that cut. Essentially, it was a pitching which number. But the last thing I wanted to do was get up there, give it a little bit of extra release and see that ball goes sailing long left, or heal it a little bit too much. See that ball going right and start sweating because the green was soft and if you spin it back, bad news. It's gone. Yeah. So I was really trying to just hit the right shot and I hit it perfectly. I mean,

that ball landed a pace past the hole and it was this far from that whole location so when we got there to me i hit a perfect shot i'm 30 feet left but i hit a about as good a shot as i could hit um i know that that the hole gets a lot of tension but being downwind obviously takes a bit of the water stress out of play it's i think it brings up flowers then it's like well but if you see that all like if i just hit it online with the bunkers and i miss it either way if it's online in between the bunkers i can either go on the short one or the long one right i don't have a doubt that that ball's not going to carry. When it's into the wind and gust in, God, a ball can go from 10 yards long to 10 yards in the water. It's a little different. What was the player's response to the

new T on 13? Because obviously, we saw what you did on Sunday, just the most gorgeous T shot drawing it around the corner. But what did you think about the added length? Was it a positive? Well, I think he's, I mean, I might not be the guy to ask now, but he places a proper part five. I think if you could hit the right T shot or even get a, it lucky sometimes you miss the branches it was too much of an advantage to have a nine iron and not everybody could do it now like i did it on sunday i think i had about as good a t-shirt i could hit it was a six iron which you're comfortable but still a six iron with the ball way above your feet right and you can still take a conservative route and and see longer clubs in i mean you're gonna see it i

think you plays the way it's supposed to be played when i go back and watch footage of the 80s i mean you see people with three irons, four irons, woods, right? That's how it's supposed to be played. And I like it. See, I think that the one thing he doesn't get enough credit about is he does do that. He goes back and watches. Oh, I've watched it. I love it. You are a student of the game. I love it. Yeah. I'm a complete junkie. I like the layup there. If you do choose the layup, like there's so much strategy on the layup. Do I want to blow it down the right side? Get a good end? I can lay it back to this specific number. I'm going to get it up close as the creek as possible. There's a lot of different options. It's not just like, oh, hit it to a hundred. A lot more thought that you think goes into

lay up the line exactly the number of the pin position giving yourself because if you put it on the right spot you can give yourself a really easy wedge out if you don't put on the right spot there can be some stress like if you have that short right pin or short left pin and you hit it 10 yards too close and you're on that downslough with a 40 year pitch shot it's not the easiest comfortable shot right so you can you can make it as easy or stressful as you want to make it for yourself yeah we saw some guys struggle with the laid it up and still souped it I mean I'm I made a boge. There's more thinking involved that thing like that.

I laid up to 80 yards and still made a bogey. I mean, it happens. Well, on Sunday, you had a sick chip from over the grid. Yeah, that was nice.

I've actually, I, before they reshape, well, like softened the grain, I had hold that chip before on my first masters. Oh.

So I had a really good visual in mind when I got there. Yeah. Okay, let's go. Another one on the next hole. Pretty filth. That was,

I mean, you said, I believe you said in a press conference, you didn't get enough credit for how good the shot on 14 was. Well, I mean, all I hear about is a T-shot on 18. That's all I hear about that.

I don't care about that. Nobody brings up that shot to me one of the best shots I hit in my life. All right, well, you're in the second cut behind a tree. Take us through it, yardage, and what you had to do? 128 meters. Got you. 42 yards. Okay.

You can kind of see in the images. If I went straight at the pin, I have to keep it low, kind of like Brooks did. I could start it just outside the left edge of the green. and within the first cut I had a decent lie but the thought of possibly getting a bit of a knockable and going straight through the green was a reality so if you were to go back to see in the image

or the video I'm trying to start it just left of the green and I'm trying to cut it about five yards because then with the wind in of the left it would do the rest to then land on the slope and take it towards the pin I was never trying to finish it online with the pin that would have been a 20-yard slice and I would have ended up way right and possibly short as well, right?

So I'm trying to hit this lower, spinning eight iron, and I did it perfectly. I mean, I could have not hit that shot any better than what I did. It starts to lay face towards the one tree that's between the pin and the flag with the help of the wind and land pin high and just takes a slow back to the pin.

I mean, I couldn't hit that any better. That's where you opened up some cushion, too. I mean, that kind of was all... Yeah, a shot of the tournament. That shot of the tournament? There's a combination of different shots. But yeah, I mean, that was pivotal, right? If I make a mistake and Brooks two-pots, it's only a two-shot lead with four to go

Luckily for me he three-potted and then I made it so yeah, I would say I could say shot of the tournament after that After that swing there because that was when it really opened up you got a four-shot lead 12 gets all the attention that's a stressful shot. I don't care how big you it is What was there a shot after that we're like I just got to get through this one let's get let's keep this one safe and then I'm so I feel good So 15 t is not a stress anymore because they put the T so far back you can't get get to the tree. So that is try to hit as hard as you can. I hit it terrible, but still in play. So there's a couple of things after that. I'm like, I'm not really worried with the back pin about the water, but you got to hit the right wet shot to give myself the best look I can.

And then obviously shot into 16 and T shot on 17. Those two were the things I was looking for. If I could hit the right shot on 17 and then put the ball on the faraway on 17, not that it's closed out, but I'm going to make a par and a bogey most likely every three. shot lead at least make a part in a bogey most likely have a three shot lead going into 18 and yeah that's what i was i had a mind go to that layup on 15 because that's another layup that like i don't think gets enough credit what we do you have a certain spot you wanted to come in from there how tricky is that layup because there's some get on the wrong like the downhill it's tricky i wanted to have about 70 75 meters um is that just so you can control your spin more exactly

on the left half of the fur away so you are looking more up the green and i like that because Because what I feel like it's a half shot is 65 meters, right? But when you're on that downslope plus a little adrenaline, that becomes 70. So if I have 75, it's perfect. That ball's going to come low, land five short, skip up, maybe pin higher, or be at least putting up the hill. And yeah, we ended up laying up to pretty much a perfect number. Hit the shot I wanted.

Just a little right of the pin. I was expecting the wind to take it a bit more than it did. But, you know, I ended up being 10 feet short right, which I had a lot more break than I wanted to. Had I been online, it would have been a straight part up the hill. Not that I would have made it, but I'm being picky in that situation. It's really easy, though, if you lay up on the wrong spot to, you know, if you catch it just off and have too much spin, you know, that water is lurking, right?

So I wanted to get as close as comfortably possible so that wouldn't happen. Yeah, we've seen disasters. I mean, that happens. With laying up, yeah. You get through 16, 17. We do have to talk about T-shot 18 because it's four-shot lead. You think, I mean, we all thought it's over. It is.

And then you just hit a weird one. Not as bad as you think. No, okay. I'm trying to hit a low fade, which I've been doing it all week perfectly, especially in 18. And I literally catch it, release it ever so slightly too much, right? So it starts about five yards left of what I'm looking for. But it's trying to cut. Like, I know whatever people want to believe you or not.

If there's no trees there, that ball is maybe one yard in the left. left cut left uh left uh left uh left semi just left of the bunkers unfortunately the street's there they went this smack in the center of the bridge it's a narrow shoot yeah no i mean it's not that bad of miss if you think about it i mean i thought if i missed left it was better than right uh and i just hit a provisional i don't i didn't see it i don't saw it actually he told me he saw something come down okay but nobody on the t said anything nobody on the faraway said anything usually they give you a sign so i'm like i'll just hit a provisional because i don't want to come back was the heart rate extremely high when you're hit the wind

Nobody saw it. Well, the thing is, people are saying out of bounds. There's no out of bounds there. Okay. If he goes to have, there's maintenance and a stand. A bush that you can lose it in possibly. But they'll find. There's a million people out there.

And if I find a ball and, you know, like, I'm pretty confident I could just pitch out and do what I did, make a five and go home. Right. But like, there's no out of bounce. I just hit a provisional just in case, mainly so I don't have the feel of hitting that shot. That's my last T shot. And luckily, I hit a perfect T shot. And then we're walking off the T and right. Instantly, we saw it.

Like the guy is walking back. down to where it is. I'm like, oh, perfect. I kind of told him, I'm like, why don't you say so? Yeah. Just walk in the middle and say, no, we have it and that's it. Yeah, just for the heart right there, dog, would have been nice to know. It's sitting down there. Your next shot, honestly, this might not be something, but he and I've talked about, I was like, he had it a little closer to the bunker than I would have like to have, like a little feely type of shot in there. I know you got the slope behind it. But is that the, is that the yardage that you wanted. Like, I would have me, give me a hundred and I can hit it anywhere. I was telling out. I'm just giving me a three wheel. I'll slice it up there into

the wind and he was like buddy let's just lay it up i'm like okay whatever it's like we have a four shot lead make a five i want to try to hit it on the green but you know good thing i didn't because that could have been if that doesn't fade he goes straight into the ninth far away and i'm having a hundred yards to go into the green the pitch shot was pretty fit shot was filled well i had 55 meters to the pin it's into the wind and i have a back stop yeah but you're also got you you're the final old mat like i would be like i don't want to touch you feeling i just want to rip something to the back let it spin let me listen if you go yourself in that situation i had about eight paces behind the pin and five short it's a 13 yard gap to land it on with a wedge right i mean i feel like i can do

yeah but my god damn hand shaking i would have bet a ton of money it wasn't landing short of the flag with the backstop i didn't i wasn't trying to land it that short but uh again 55 meters is my half 60 shot so all i did is just give it a little bit extra it worked out but i was like that's a touch that's where i our brains work different. I'm like, there's a bunker there. If it's sod, it's in there, then things get weird. It didn't. I know.

It didn't. I wanted to make par. I'm not going to lie. Adam told me, and I was thinking the same thing. We're walking up and I'm like, I could just dump it up there like Tiger did too, but to go home. You know what happens. He's like finishing in style, man.

Like you've played amazing this back now and make a par. And that's why I get, I was like, okay, I'll be aggressive. And you did. Respect. You made the par. Your family's there waiting on you. How special was that? I mean, I saw your dad was there all week.

Yes, he was. He almost didn't go. He had about three, four friends that were supposed to go with them, and they all canceled for different reasons, and he almost didn't go. He ended up going because he got invited to a golf trip on the Northeast. Like, they went to play Wingfoot and a couple of the courses up there. And that's the only reason why he went. It's like, oh, I'll just go do that.

And Tuesday night, I fly to Augusta. That Wednesday, I see the part three, and then I go watch. So thank God he went. Wow. That's unbelievable. Damn. Good decision. Thank God.

Now he's already telling me I wasn't going to come to the PGA, but you might win it. I'm like, well, that logic just come to all the dangers. There's not one that you're not like, you might not win it. They're all you might win it. I know one of your idols, Jose Marie was also behind the green there. I know y'all shared a pretty cool moment. We've talked about this before. You said, I couldn't hear what anybody was saying to me because I asked you what Brooks said to you, Jose Marie.

Well, I heard it. I just, I don't think he processed one second. Things were gone so fast. Not a chance I remember what anybody said. And not even a little bit. How about Jordan hanging out to congratulate? That was pretty classy. He's a classy guy.

He's a classy guy. He didn't have to do that instead. Yeah. So I was to win. Because I know, you know, Phil is one of those guys who you've looked up to and, you know, you met him when you were in college and everything. And I was always wondering if he was going to be there when you finished. And then I learned when you came on the set on CBS that he actually was there. So he, yeah, I don't think he wanted to do the whole public thing.

When you go into the scoring area, there's a couple of steps. And then between the columns where you can. can't really see because they hide people over there. Phil and Amy where they're waving right before I got into scoring. What was the moment like with Phil? That's cool. I also don't remember what he said, but it was very cool for him to be there. You know, he, as you know, he has been saying for a few years that

he's talked about my potential, right? And, you know, to feel validated like that and be there with them was really, really cool. you know he mentioned something about earlier on the week about us us to having many lunches in the champion's locker room and that's now a reality so that was a that was a very cool moment you got in the media center and sung your praises too talking about you like i saw this kid at as u and i said he was top 10 like i'm not surprised at all by his play but more complimented you on like the person you are yeah he's he's been he's been a great mentor to me and and you know learn a few things about augusta national thanks to him so

it's uh he had a part on that as well you don't see him as much but your relationship still the same as it was years ago talking text and all that yeah so now that you have had all the success and he was right can i have my money back well you you pick it up with him you took a you took a bet yeah he was a third party you bet against me he was just a horse yeah i don't i'm not no chance off i didn't bet against you i just the bet the odds were in my favor i just happened to lose it was nothing against your talent i knew you were really good uh-huh i just you know it was on You can defend it however you want. It ain't coming back.

Can I give you a compliment? I'm not going to lie, though. I would have taken the bed just so you know. Yeah, of course John would have taken it. Yeah. No, no, meaning I would have done what he did. Oh, you would have a two-car? I didn't even have a tool card.

Oh, you weren't as bad. Yeah, he just had been pro when they made this bet. I had played with Phil before he went to San Antonio. Phil should have been getting like, that's a minimum five to one. Like, if you were going to make that bed. Why do you think I took it? Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. And listen, you fire sometimes? When you have somebody like him, because I heard about it, and he's told me in person, like he told me that. And Keith Sir Barber is another guy who always said, hey, you're already top 10 in the world. I'm like, man, when you have two guys like that that know so much about the game telling you that and you're not even pro yet, I don't even have my tour card. The boost in confidence in your ability is insane.

Yeah, for sure. It's insane. Yeah. That's helpful. Compliment to you in the Butler cabin. You guys go in. There's been some awkward jacket exchanges in the history. I thought you and Scotty pulled it off flawlessly.

Is there any rehearsal on that before? Like, hey, dude, let's not butcher this. Let's a little practice. Not Scottie, but they had me rehearse it with the people outside and like, what arm do you like first? I'm like, I've never thought of this in my life. Right? They have you try a few jackets on all that. And then it's like, yeah, how you do this?

I guess I do left first, this and that. And then they tell Scotty and, oh, yeah, it's pretty funny how it goes. And then the one rule that I had to remember is like, do not shake Scottie's hands first. the chairman and the whole time I'm thinking I'm like don't fuck this up because Scotty did it

and the first person I see Scottie even though he was trying to kind of like like hide behind me and walk off like like Sam did Sam didn't walk he ran he took off so yeah I saw it like the second

the second they announced that he just I see him just bolt out of that he was the only person to run at Augusta all week it was pretty funny so like yeah it was in my mind I'm like okay chairman really chairman really It was pretty funny.

I mean, they'd make you nervous. It's got to be a nervous little, it's like so quaint and tight in there be the whole golf world as watching. Like if I would have done, there's been some fumbles on that jacket. If I wanted to do the wrong thing,

I don't think anybody would have cared. None of you would have known. No. But like, it's just funny how, like, if you would have shook Scottie's hand, not one of us would have known.

No one would ever know until just now. Now that we know, that's like the proper protocol. But I don't know. I don't know if they've changed. I don't know. It probably has been the protocol forever. But yeah.

Like if you go back, the champion step the past champion steps back and then you go into the chairman really you mess it up you're just a meme forever it's no big deal yeah whatever i mean one more i know you're very much looking forward already to the champions dinner next year you've already thought about you've you already had talks with a famous spanish chef correct yeah well i mean we've talked about it as a joke in the past but yeah i made him Jose andres yeah i i mentioned in the press conference and he sent me a text like hey man everybody's texting me like what you say what i'm like well We've talked about it before.

What do you mean? What did I say? Like, I want you to help me. It's like, okay, okay, I'll help you out. And we haven't talked about it in between us. They already have a few ideas. For people that are now with Spanish, Spanish cuisine. Hamon will be there for sure.

What is that? Hamon. Spanish ham. Hamon, everico. We had some the other night, right? Right over here. Huh? We had some the other night, right over here.

Oh, that the quarter? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, the new place. Exactly. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. There you go. So it'll be that.

A syn appetizer. I know, I believe I know the dessert, possibly the wine if I get a choice in what wine is drank. You're paying for it. I think you're the guy. That's another thing I learned. I went to chairman, really. I was like, what's the budget for this? Like, whatever you want to spend.

Yeah. I was like, great. Wine in a box. And everything in between, I have some ideas, but I haven't decided yet. It's actually the one thing I've probably given more thought to out of anything. Really? Yeah. Pretty funny.

I don't know why. Other than the subpar podcast. Where are you most excited to take the green jacket? I don't know if I'm going to be taking it on every single interview I do. I'm going to be honest. I think you should probably never wear it. I think you retire. We'll put it in the rafters right here if you want us to watch.

What would be really meaningful to me is when I go back home, if there's a soccer game, if I could do an honorary kickoff. I bet you can't. That would be epic. Give us a serious question here. Like, what's this mean in Spain? Can you even get a pulse of it? Like, where are you now in terms of like at?

Like, Nadal, you mentioned like getting a text from him. Like, he's a guy that's been carrying the flag for Spain for forever. I have no idea now. I have that guy. No, I mean, the guy is arguably a goat in his sport. I don't, I'm not even close. Baby goat. I mean, you're still growing.

Not even close. Not even close. But it could happen. But, I mean, you're one of four that ever win over there, you know? I mean, if you, you put in perspective, right? Fourth master's champion from Spain. Sixth jacket. 10th major for Spain.

which to me is a big deal obviously the one thing that that keeps coming back to me that i can't still believe is that i'm the first european to win the u.s open and the masters which uh still can't believe that some of the grades in the past weren't able to do that right which it's amazing um i don't know where to put it in spanish sports it's early on my career the potential is there yes but still very early on my career so i have no idea is there is there any comparison comparison the feeling between winning the u.s open and the masters different very different scenarios um because at u.s open i never had the lead till the last hole like never solo lead till the 72nd hall which i guess is the only time you need it um but i was never really like winning the

tournament yeah right up until all of a sudden at the end made a few birdies right this case i was always in contention um and was able to get it done uh you know and Brooks is a fierce competitor when he has the lead. It's the first time he doesn't convert him, a 54-wholead in a major championship, which, you know, it's unusual for him to play bad. And you knew that going in. Oh, of course I know.

I know all those things. It's awesome. I'm not thinking about it, but it's just the Spanish history of that moment, right? 40th anniversary of his second win, his birthday, Easter. It's just a lot of things that added. And when I finished playing, I've told people, and I don't want to play favorites, and I don't want to offend anybody in the USGA,

but I don't know why this meant so much more. I can't tell you exactly why, but to me, this one meant quite a bit more. I mean, it's the Masters. I mean, I'm sure when you were growing up, you woke up at certain times to watch the Masters on TV. More like when late to bed, but yeah. Whatever, time zone thing.

Yeah, the putts you hit as a kid on the Green, like this is to win the Masters. That's like what kids do. It is, and this, it's really, I think the fact that it's over, always played at the same golf course and be able to win it is what makes it even better. Everybody gets to practice it. Everybody gets to know how to play the golf course around there, right?

But to be the one to best them all, like four shots, I mean, it's just that things add up, right? I think there was a lot of history and legacy in that moment. And that's why that picture of Sevi and I still makes me feel that way. Like every time I look at it, it makes me want to cry. It's incredible. So it's really how much it means. I've spoken before in many interviews, how. my family started playing golf because of Sevi's impact on the captaincy and the writer

cop in 97 right and that's why I feel that connection with the great Spanish players in the past if it wasn't for that my my dad wouldn't have started playing golf who knows if I'd be here right so I don't know if you can call it carrying the torch or passing the torch or or meeting some type of legacy with Sevi and however you want to award it it was really it's what made it special you mentioned Phil was there Jordan was there you heard from Rafa Tiger reach out he did you reached out yeah it's a very nice text a very tiger light test okay perfect yeah what you would have 13 behind yeah no I didn't get that you're coming yeah I didn't get that I mean he was very nice he was very very nice about it

I got a lot of great texts you know to get a text from Tom Brady as well very unique yeah the list goes on and how long does it take you to cipher through the text And do you remember how many you had when you first looked at your phone at midnight? So the, because WhatsApp and message it and I message do differently, right? It was like 350 notifications, but some of them were group chats with like 50 texts. Yeah. So I don't know. I can't even know.

I didn't do anything Monday. I tried to obviously get family first and all that. By Tuesday when I was in my physios table in the afternoon, I had responded to everybody. Good man. I tried to do it quick because I'm one of those people that if I see, like the little one that read alert that you have a notification, it drives me absolutely nuts. Yeah, that's criminal. I hate it.

It's criminal. I just, I try to get it done as early as possible. Do you think, you know, I know we're looking ahead to next year already, but do you think you'll continue the tradition of parking at the double eagle club? That's a big thing. That's the best thing out of all of this. So yeah, no, you were, you and many people were confused as hell that day. It had to look like a prank like, yeah, we're a video on some sort of prank show here.

The, uh, the valet guy there. I didn't get his name, but I was there on Sunday. I went over and watched the end of your round on Sunday. And he's like, can you believe this is going to happen? He was sitting right here earlier in the week. I was like, this is incredible. John Rom had to park at the Double Eagle Club, and he walked. Because, I mean, rules are rules at Augusta.

You're only allowed to have one car. Yeah, you're only allowed one courtesy car. It was Wednesday, and Kelly needed the bigger car that we had for the car seats. And I thought we have found a way for me to get in. I'm pretty sure if I'd go into the gate with my pass, I wouldn't let me in. But we already called Chairman Ridley about it. And he said no. So I'm like, last thing I need is him get in the word that I'm there and getting trouble.

So I just part of the double ego is for people that I don't know is literally across the street from Augusta National. And walked in. And the funny thing is, I mean, it was 5.30 in the morning. Or six, like, it was early in the morning. And people are going in already to the gate. And I'm standing with, I don't know who I was with. I was with Steve Loy in my duffel bag and my backwards hat and my lanyard. Right.

And I'm standing on the light waiting for it to turn green. And people are walking. by and they look at me. I don't know if they don't believe it's me or it's just too early for them to realize, but it's funny, just have people walk by, they look, they look again, and then they keep walking, right? I'm just looking at it like, what am I doing? No way. You don't see Steph Curry waiting. He's like, what am I doing here? As you're entering the arena. But take me through this. You walk across Washington and then did you like go to the catty area? Did you walk all the way down Magnolia Lane? Like, what did you? No, no, no. I go, most of us

always go to the catty area. Yeah. It's just easier in every sense. So, I went, yeah, I had breakfast, had my coffee, and went to the, went to warm up in the gym. There's going to be 10 players parking. Oh, dude, they're just going to be camp at the best one next year. After the, I mean, where you saw me, the reason you saw me there, because I've been there waiting for a bit, is the valet, I guess they don't really have that many spots up in the area, so they part like two miles away. If you don't know, I'm looking at camera.

Washington Road traffic can be as bad as it ever gets. And so I finished my day. I see my physio. Kelly goes home with the kids, whatever. I mean, it's like five. Yeah. And I ordered, you know, I tell them to my car and, like, I know it's going to be a while, so I don't want to be sitting out just waiting.

I'm like hiding on that little spot behind the valet. Like the little table they have was pretty funny. And that's when a call came. It was like, what the hell are you doing? Yeah, we watched TV. By the way, I waited another 40 minutes after you last. Yeah, like, well, Steve Lloyd called the owner like, hey, the hell. Yeah.

Because my car was supposed to be up there. I got nobody. Yeah, we made a mistake or whatever. Deal with it. Yeah, it took a while. That was cool. They park them in Atlanta and then they run and go get like it. Well, the funny thing is then trying to get out into Washington Road, nobody's letting you in.

Thank God, Kaiser, Austin Kaiser, was there. And he saw me waiting and he let me in. So thank you. First time anyone said that. Thanks, guys. Thank God. Thank God for Austin Kaiser. I got to ask you the burning question.

I don't think you've been asked this yet, but the people need to know. Did you really pee seven times? No, five. Okay. Five. I thought I was going to get this quick. question way more. I mean, first of all, no one's asked that yet. We're waiting. I'm trying to hydrate. It's a freaking master's you're nervous. I'm not going to wait till I really have to go

that bad to what it can affect the shot. So yeah. And you're trying to kill time because it was so slow like I'll go to the bathroom. I tell you I went on four. I went on nine for sure I won on 11. I went on 16 and uh did I don't know if I went on I went on 13 five. Wow. That's fine. When you get nervous, you got pee, and you're trying to kill time because you know you're going to come up and wait on the next ones. It's like, I either sit here and think or I go pee. I mean, it was because it was two-sum split tea, right? So we know we're going to have to wait. But we finish the first haul.

Like, I make a great part. I'm like, I'm ready to hit that next tee ball. And we get there and the guys are still on the tea sitting on the bench. I'm like, oh, boy. So we knew what kind of a day was going to be. So when I made the birdie pot on three, I looked, they're not even, like, we saw them hit. So I know I'm going to have to wait. So I'm just making time by at least moving doing something.

then I want to just be sitting there waiting. On 13, we saw Patrick, I hit his tea shot left. When we got to the tea, he was walking back across the river to then go up. So I'm like, I mean, we just, we're no, we're waiting, so why not? Yeah. You waited, apparently something calculated 97 minutes. Yeah. Total wait time.

That seems like a lot. That seems like a lot. I mean, we did wait a lot. It was at one point, our face on 16 says it all. Yeah. Like, I'm eating my food and we're both like, this is ridiculous. Okay. Final group of the masters waiting this long.

It's a little bit of a joke. You and Brooks, two of the fastest players, though, out there. Let's just get it from you right now. I wouldn't say I'm the fastest. No, you're not, but you're on the faster side. Yeah, you're above average, I would say. Brooks is fast. Brooks is very fast.

Brooks is very fast. Brooks is very fast. What do we need to do to speed this thing up? Listen, there are slow players out there, but in this case scenario, the fact that we had two sums and two T's was a problem. everybody's going to go for it on the part fives. Not everybody's going to hit a good shot. You're going to have to wait,

especially in split teeth. That's always going to be the case. I know Patrick Kelly's been catching a lot of heat for that Sunday. I don't know if he was waiting or not. I couldn't tell you, right? And there was a couple of situations. Like 16 hits on the absolute worst scenario or spot on the green you can hit it,

which is short right on top. I mean, that is a long pot with 30 feet of break, and I understand you're going to take some time, right? So it also doesn't help with me and Brooks are playing behind and I'm playing good golf and he's already fast, right? So we're going to be faster group than the average. I wouldn't know. I think the main, and I might have some heat for this, but when it comes to the PJ tour,

I think for the most part, fields are too big. Yeah. And there's too many people on the golf course. There's simply nothing you can do to make it faster. So in Patrick's defense in this case, like we did, if you know you're waiting on the next hole, why rush? Yeah. If an extra look is going to help, you're waiting either way.

Right. So I think there are some slow players, but a lot of it is there's just too many people on the course at the same time. Yeah, we've talked about it. Patrick's caught a lot of flack for it, like you said, but the reason is he's playing well. And we see it on TV. So he gets shown a lot more than the guy in 60th place who's also playing slow. Yeah, I mean, the slower people than Patrick, for sure. Yeah.

What's John Rom's schedule coming up? Uh, well, we, uh, we, uh, I don't know if I'm playing Wells Fargo or not. That's the question. Obviously playing the PGA, but everything in between. I'm defending next week. Most likely two weeks off and then PGA. That's cool.

You're going back to Mexico to defend. Yeah. I mean, that's a plan, obviously. Unless something crazy happens, I wouldn't want to not go without a reason, right? They've treated me really well and I feel like it's a really good place for the family. It's a very nice resort. Highly recommend it for everybody. The resort's awesome.

Golf course, if it hasn't changed, wide open. Great. It's hit it hard of the tea. Go find it. Great shape. One of the best shape golf courses we saw all year. And again, a Mason resort. I don't know.

It's a great opportunity. I wouldn't want to take three weeks out before a major either way. So if I would choose, I chose to defend. Beautiful. Love that. And you're a member now at this little place you got on your jacket. Any plans to go, when's the next time you're going to stay foot on property? I am not a member.

Or you can go back. I guess. Yeah, yeah. Like, I'm somewhere in between a playing privileges. A qualified player and a member. Like, I can go and stay in one of the rooms they have attached to them to the clubhouse, but I can't have people, I can't stay in the cottages. I can't have people stay with me.

If I go and play, I can bring a guest, but they can't play. So I don't really know when I'll be going next. I mean, I haven't gone early to Augusta the last few years. I don't know if I'll do it or not unless the right group of people comes to for me to want to go. Well, I mean, Hello, we're sitting around the table. Anybody listening? No, no.

Throw your name in the hat. Sorry. Just got something. I'm just saying, your favorite podcast, fellows are sitting right here. We live right down the road. You're toting the ASU bag. Nobody's a new genre.

Just rid of that, you know? Yeah. No. Rule number one. It's like Fight Club. That's what it does. You're salty about that laws, aren't you? No, it actually makes for a great story.

It does. Yeah, it makes them a great story. I mean, when you're going, going in the Hall of Fame, I'll be able to say, you wouldn't believe this bet I lost because of this kid. It was great. Yeah. If I'm still alive. I've gotten a lot of content. I'll remind you in the speech. We've gotten a lot of content. Write that down John Rom's in a lot of content. No, when I made promises. I promised Zach Gertz I was going to call him out when I won and I did. Good. So I'm going to be in your Hall of Fame speech. Perfect. Wow. Sounds incredible.

A lot of big things. A lot of hope I remember. Yeah. How long I'm still alive? Yeah. How long you plan on going? All right. Well, you ready to let it loose tonight or what? No next. Listen, I have fun. I never get away. I never let myself go to a point where I can't control myself. How about that? I've never liked it.

Same. Same. Mutual. Never liked it. So I don't know. But this night might be a little different. You know, it prays to have an amazing wife. So if she's willing to put up with one more kid tomorrow, maybe I'll do it or not.

But I'm not sure. Well, man, we are so proud of you. Congratulations. It's awesome. I mean, you've been so great to us. We can't thank you enough. And the green jacket looks very good, aren't you, my friend? Yeah, it's a nice fit.

Appreciate you, my man. It's nice to put it on. Honestly, I forget about it every once in a while. It's awesome. It's very nice. You're the man. Sleeze, that was a special one. Getting to sit down with our man, John Rom, the 2023 Masters champion.

No one deserves it more. So happy for him. It's going to be a party tonight. It's going to be a good one. I cannot wait to not remember any of it. And also just thank you to John Rom. Like this is our first guest ever on golf subpar. I think he's our first three-time guest now.

He's always been so good to you and I. Like he's got a million things going on right now. He could easily be like, dude, I'm tapped. I just want to chill out. But no, he comes in here right after he gets back home, comes on the show. Tip of the cap to Johnny. Love it. And congratulations.

Congratulations, Big Spain. That was really fun to watch. Tell you what, sleaze, our picks. They're starting to heat up a little bit. Over at Fandle. It's getting a little warm. Last week, I had Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood, both right in the mix.

You had Patrick Cantley, Ricky Fowler, right in the mix. Our parley hit again for our top 20, which was very nice. We took Matt Fitzpatrick, I believe, and Ricky Fowler to top 20. Some good juice on that too. There was. So we're starting to get there. We were almost. We almost had the Holy Grail.

We almost had like all of them in the top four at one point it looked like. We're coming back. We're coming back. All right. We'll tee it up on Fandul this PGA tour season. Right now, new customers can get $150 in bonus bets guaranteed when you place a $5. dollar bet. You can do head-to-head matchups. You can do top 20s, all kinds of different things. Straight up winners, whatever you want. And if you've been thinking about joining Fandul,

there's no better time to get in on the action. The app is so easy to use, and there's so many betting options. Let's get to it, Slees. We got the Zert Classic. The team. Lead a team game this week. It's all about being positive. There's no eye and team. Shearing each other on, but there's an M.E. And that, you know what I'm saying. In that thing. All right, this is a fun one. I've had some fun partners down there. This really saved this event in my opinion. It's going to be very interesting to watch. How about Patrick Cantlay and Zander Schoffler plus $2.90?

You like that one? I think they're a slight favorite. Like that one? I do like them to win, but I'm not going to bet it. That is way too tight of odds for me. So for my favorite, I'm going with a very interesting team. Okay? This man wrote the other guy a letter and asked if they wanted to be teammates at

dessert class. That's flattering. It is. It's very nice. It's old school, which I'm here for it. Old gentleman. Sung J.M., Kashmir, Keith Mitchell. There won't be any cashmere beer.

and we're worn down in New Orleans in April. It gets a little warm. Going off at plus 1,300. I love it. I love the way the invite was. It reminds me of sophomore year homecoming. Like put a little something in the locker, a little sign. Will you play with me?

Will you go with me? So sweet. I believe Keith wrote another box and said, duh. Yeah, I checked it. He gave it back to him. Yeah. Sung Jay asked you to playing something. Good partner to have.

Coming off a nice week as well. All right. Going a little further down the list here, Colt, but I like these guys. I'm going Sam Burns, Billy Horshaw, 17 to 1. You got Burns. He's the local boy. He's going to have a lot of love down there in Norlands. He's playing some very nice golf coming in hot. Billy, not as hot. But I feel like he ain't far off. Yeah, I wouldn't say warm, but it's like trending to warm perhaps. And also sometimes just like a different format, something a little different change of pace, just to break the monony of the week. It can go and help. And he's got some nice success down here in New Orleans. So give me those two boys, it's 17 to one. You know, I think the first day with it being best ball, you can kind of free it up. And yeah, it's like ride your partner a little bit if you need to. And then alternate shot, obviously, if you're not on your. game you're going to get exposed. But I've always loved that team with this event.

They're good friends. Billy has won there when it was a stroke play event. I'm just a little concerned to how he's playing right now. As far as a dark horse, I'm going at 46 to 1. Not really sure why. It just feels right down to New Orleans. They're Southern boys. Trey Mullanex, Scott Stallings.

I love it. I love the analysis. No clue on. It's not over-analize this stuff. I just like it. It jumped off at me. I'm going in the exact same range, 46 to 1. Kind of similar deal.

I got a little bit of justification behind it. Give me Joel Damon, Denny McCarthy, okay? Joel Damon, incredible ball striker. Can run really hot. When the putter gets going, he's extremely dangerous. Denny, best putter on tour. Going to take a little bit of the pressure off of Joel. If he rolls one few feet by, there's not another guy on tour.

You're ready to have hitting that thing coming back. I like this one. Joel came out with the hot start last week, and Denny's just the guy. We're just waiting for him to win. It's going to happen. Give me that team at 46 to 1. All right. We'll go download the Fandul app, and when you win, you can get paid instantly.

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Read that all back to me. I got it all locked in. I have all those numbers memorized. All right. Once again, thank you so much to John Rom for coming in and sitting down with us. That was a pleasure. We'll talk to you on next week's golf subpar.