'Laughable' golf changes leave 'best player' fuming

1 year ago 35

Golf's caller rankings strategy has been denounced by Spaniard Jon Rahm, who declared helium is the "best subordinate successful the world" contempt being stuck astatine No.5 owed to caller changes.

Last year's changes to the rankings strategy saw much value placed connected the extent of the tract alternatively than however galore ranked players competed. Rahm labelled the changes "laughable" erstwhile they came into impact past year.

The Spaniard, who has 3 wins successful his past 5 starts, scored a immense comeback triumph implicit Collin Morikawa astatine the Tournament of Champions successful Hawaii disconnected the backmost of a last circular 10-under 63.

He's been successful reddish blistery form having besides won the Spanish Open and DP World Tour Championship, portion finishing 2nd and 4th successful his different 2 events since the FedEx Series.

Under the aged system, Rahm would presently beryllium satellite No.2 down Rory McIlroy with Scottie Scheffler third.

Yet helium remains 5th successful the rankings down Patrick Cantlay, Cameron Smith, Scottie Scheffler and satellite No.1 Rory McIlroy.

"Since the playoffs ... I've won 3 times and I don't adjacent get adjacent to him. So, I'm trying to recognize what's going on," Rahm said.

"Had they not changed the satellite ranking points (system) I would person been beauteous damn adjacent (to satellite No.1) close now. But successful my mind, I consciousness similar since August I've been the champion subordinate successful the world.

"Earlier successful the twelvemonth intelligibly Scottie was that player, past Rory was that player, and I consciousness similar close present it's been me. Anybody, immoderate fixed twelvemonth tin get a blistery three, 4 months and get to that spot."

The caller strategy has seen Rahm driblet from satellite No.2 adjacent though helium has recorded 10 top-10 finishes successful his past 15 tournaments.

"It's precise hard to enactment up determination and it requires a batch of golf. But we're each moving hard. I cognize everybody's putting successful a batch of effort to effort to enactment determination arsenic agelong arsenic possible," Rahm said.

"But to reply that, yes, I privation to beryllium backmost up determination due to the fact that it's thing you privation to do, obviously. But you request to play bully and triumph tournaments, nobody's going to springiness it to you."

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