Jon Rahm sets sights on major glory after overcoming swing issues in 2022

Jon Rahm has set his sights on adding to his major tally in 2023, after overcoming problems with his swing in 2022.

Rahm made his major breakthrough at the US Open in 2021, but failed to add to it in 2022.

He struggled at the Masters, Open and PGA Championship – with his one good showing being in the defence of his US Open title as he finished in a tie for 12th at Brookline.

Rahm was delighted with his form in the second half of the year, and it has filled him with confidence going into 2023.

“I set my goals every year and I’m pretty ambitious so I’m not always going to accomplish everything I set my mind out to,” Rahm said. ““It can be tough in a sport where the most accomplished athlete of all time won 30 per cent of the time, right? That being Tiger (Woods).

“I think there’s a lot of things you can do well as an athlete and as a player to consider a positive year. Obviously, you want to win events. That’s there. The only thing I didn’t do last year that I wish I would have done is compete better in majors and give myself a better chance.

“So obviously that being a goal this year, hopefully get number two and give Spain another major.

“I was close at the US Open. I was one back, I just had a bad final round.

“I don’t think there’s a way to explain it. For people that may not believe it, I battled my swing most of the year. I wasn’t as comfortable as I was the year prior and that showed.

“Then when you go to major championship golf where you need to be better in every single way, those mistakes are going to show. It seems like in the fall things got going a little bit better.

“I felt like for the most part I was playing better than scores were showing. Maybe once the PGA Tour season was over I took some time off and reset and that’s why I played well in the fall.”

Rahm will kick off his season at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

He finished second to Cameron Smith 12 months ago, but the Australian will not be back to defend his crown after his move to LIV Golf.

Eligible LIV players were given invitations to the Masters, and Rahm says he would like to be a fly on the wall of the Champions Dinner at Augusta to see what sort of reception the likes of Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Patrick Reed will receive.

“One thing I keep going back to, and it’s probably only funny to me, but I think the Masters Champions Dinner is going to be a little tense compared to how it’s been in the past,” Rahm said. “I keep thinking about it because I wish I could be there and just be able to see how things work out. Too bad the US Open doesn’t have one of those.”