Alright, Daily Duffer faithful, Tyler Reed here, and today we’re talking about Jon Rahm. Not his swing, not his caddie, but the elephant in the room: his recent performance, or lack thereof when it comes to lifting trophies. The article from MyGolfSpy, a reliable source, posits that there’s no real cause for alarm *yet*. As an equipment editor who lives and breathes data, I felt compelled to dive into this. Because often, when a top-tier player starts to show inconsistencies, the first thing I look at is the gear.
The piece highlights Rahm’s winless streak, particularly in majors since his move to LIV. MyGolfSpy states:
“Without trying to make this too much of a LIV versus PGA Tour discussion, Rahm hasn’t contended for a major since he made the move over in 2024.”
This is a critical point. Contending, for a player of Rahm’s caliber, means being in the mix on Sunday. It means having the ball on a string, knowing exactly what each club will do under pressure. In my fitting bay, when a player who usually strikes it pure suddenly sees wider dispersion patterns or inconsistent distances, the first thing we check is their equipment setup. Has anything changed? Has wear and tear subtly altered club performance? Or, more profoundly, has there been a shift in mindset that impacts tempo and, subsequently, ball striking? The MyGolfSpy article does acknowledge that “nothing has been overly off for Rahm in the majors,” citing he’s gained strokes in most, with the exception of a poor ball-striking week at the 2024 PGA. This is vague, and for an equipment guy like me, it raises more questions than it answers.
The Short Game: Where the Data Tells a Story
The article does offer a few crucial pieces of data on Rahm’s short game:
“The short game has failed to catch any fire which really can be the difference between an uneventful top 10 and being near the lead on Sunday.”
And then points to a positive recent turn:
“Rahm’s putter has been great so far in his two events in 2026. In Riyadh, he gained 5.44 strokes with the flat stick. In Adelaide, he gained 4.72, along with 2.64 shots around the green.”
Now, *this* is concrete. Gaining nearly 5 strokes with the putter in two events is significant. For context, that’s Tour-level putting – the kind of numbers that keep you in contention. The 2.64 shots gained around the green in Adelaide is also excellent. This tells me that his short game *tools* might not be the issue, or at least they aren’t currently hindering him. When a player logs numbers like these, it suggests their wedges and putter are matched to their stroke and feel preferences. In my fitting experience, a well-balanced putter with the correct lie angle and loft can shave strokes off immediately. Similarly, wedges with the right bounce and grind for a player’s attack angle and typical turf conditions are critical. If Rahm is gaining this many strokes, his setup there seems dialed in.
However, the earlier statement about the short game failing to “catch fire” in previous majors is interesting. Is it a club issue? A technique issue? Or simply the pressure of the moment on those crucial major championship greens? Without specific launch monitor data on his wedge shots – things like spin rates out of different lies, launch angles, and precise carry distances – it’s hard to make a definitive equipment call. But generally, if a player’s putting is “great,” it indicates confidence in the tool. Perhaps the earlier struggles were more mental or strategic.
The Bigger Picture: Consistency vs. Winning
The article makes a strong case for Rahm’s continued consistency, even without the wins:
“It’s clear Rahm is still playing consistently strong golf. Data Golf ranks Rahm as the second-best player in the world behind Scottie Scheffler.”
This is where the equipment editor in me sits up straight. Data Golf’s rankings are based on strokes gained metrics across a vast dataset. If Rahm is consistently performing at a world-class level, it implies his driver isn’t spraying it wildly, his irons aren’t coming up short, and his ball flight is generally predictable. I’ve tested hundreds of drivers, and the difference between a good one and a great one often comes down to forgiveness (high MOI) and efficient energy transfer (ball speed across the face). If Rahm’s consistently gaining strokes off the tee and with his approach shots, his big clubs are likely performing as expected.
For someone like Rahm, who possesses immense power, maximizing ball speed without sacrificing control is key. When I fit a bomber, I’m looking for high launch, low spin, and exceptional stability. If his driver isn’t optimized – say, too much spin, or a head design that doesn’t match his attack angle – even a slight inefficiency can lead to fractional misses that add up over 72 holes. But the Data Golf ranking suggests his fundamental ball striking numbers are still excellent. So, is it a subtle shift in dynamic loft on impact? A slight change in clubhead speed due to a new training regimen? Or simply, as the article suggests, winning *is* hard, and sometimes the margins are razor-thin.
Majors and the Equipment Matchup
The article also touches on Rahm’s chances in the 2026 majors, linking course characteristics to his game:
- Aronimink (PGA Championship): Favors bombers. This is Rahm’s wheelhouse. A high-launch, low-spin driver setup with a forgiving face could be a massive advantage here. We’re talking ball speeds north of 180mph and carry distances approaching 320 yards. If his driver is performing, he’ll be aggressive.
- Shinnecock Hills (U.S. Open): Favored accurate drivers in 2018; if so again, it might not suit Rahm best. This highlights a crucial fitting element: versatility. Players need clubs that perform in diverse conditions. If accuracy trumps distance, a driver with slightly higher spin for more control, or even a strong 3-wood that offers more precision, might be the play.
- Royal Birkdale (Open Championship): Does not favor driving distance, nor does it demand extreme straightness. This is a course where precision irons and a masterful short game shine. If Rahm’s current short game form holds, this could be a great fit.
My take? While the article rightly points out that consistency isn’t the same as winning, especially in majors, it largely dismisses equipment as a primary concern. The data points on his short game improvement are encouraging. If his full swing numbers on a launch monitor continue to show optimal conditions – consistent smash factor, stable spin rates, tight dispersion – then the “alarm” the article mentions would truly only be for mental fortitude, not his weaponry. For now, I’m with MyGolfSpy. I’m not worried about Jon Rahm. Not yet. But if those short game numbers dip, or if the strokes gained off the tee start to look less dominant, then my inner club fitter will start asking some serious questions about what’s in the bag.
