Former PGA Tour winner turned controversial Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee has outlined what he believes is a weakness of Jon Rahm’s ahead of The Masters.

The 31-year-old Spaniard already knows what it takes to win at Augusta National, having clinched the green jacket in 2023 when Brooks Koepka folded like a pack of cards in the final round. 

It represented Rahm’s second major championship triumph after clinching the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in dramatic fashion two years prior. 

But plenty of golf fans and pundits have argued that Rahm probably should have more majors under his belt by now given his pedigree. 

Jon Rahm is still among the favourites to clinch the 2026 Masters

Jon Rahm is still among the favourites to clinch the 2026 Masters

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He is yet to win one of golf’s big four since his big-money move to LIV Golf in December 2023. 

Rahm has only truly put himself into contention once to complete a hat-trick of major wins. 

Last May, Rahm capitalised on Scottie Scheffler’s sluggish start and tied the lead with nine holes remaining. 

But he blew up in spectacular fashion, dropping five strokes on the final three holes to slide into a share of eighth at Valhalla. 

Still, Rahm will arrive in Georgia next week as one of the pre-tournament favourites alongside world number one Scheffler and the defending champion Rory McIlroy. 

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Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Aberg, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Cameron Young and Justin Rose are also expected to mount challenges. 

Jon Rahm major results since LIV Golf move

Year

Major

Result

2024

Masters Tournament

T45

2024

PGA Championship

Missed cut

2024

U.S. Open

WD (Injured)

2024

The Open Championship

T7

2025

Masters Tournament

T14

2025

PGA Championship

T8

2025

U.S. Open

T7

2025

The Open Championship

T34

Chamblee told the Indo Sport golf podcast that he doesn’t consider Rahm among his favourites, despite having  “pretty much everything”. 

He argued Rahm’s iron play is not his strength at Augusta, save for one year.

“In the years that you could find strokes gained data at Augusta National, and it’s only been a handful, so not a huge subset, but, you know, he’s 20th or 30th on average in strokes gained approach, in that field, 20th or 30th.

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“So that’s a lot of people who hit their irons better than you.

“So, again, everybody’s got their caveats. Everybody’s got their question marks.

Chamblee also pointed out that Rahm has a short, quick backswing.  

“You know, that proves problematic in stressful major championship situations,” he said. 

Chamblee says LIV Golf stats are “laughable”

Meanwhile, Chamblee also argued that it’s hard to gauge how players in the LIV Golf League will fare in major events given their statistics are “laughable”. 

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Chamblee argued the courses LIV Golf visit are much, much easier than the established PGA Tour. 

“I’ll try to put it in perspective,” Chamblee said. 

“Bryson, he’s played, like, five times this year. He’s averaging right at 77 per cent of the greens in regulation.

“To put that into perspective. When he played the [PGA] Tour for five or six years, he averaged around 67 per cent of the greens hit in regulation.

“Tour leaders every year in greens regulation is usually around 72, 73 per cent. When Tiger had his historic year in 2000, he hit 75 per cent of the greens.”

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Chamblee added: “Nobody’s ever hit a golf ball better than Tiger in 2000, and I can promise you, Bryson’s not hitting his irons that good.

“And he’s not even leading! Jon Rahm is leading with 82.22 per cent of the greens in regulation.

“This would be like Steph Curry shooting free throws through a hula hoop size goal and peacocking around like he’s, you know, better than he’s ever been.

“So, you know, the numbers are just, you know, they’re dubious, and you kind of look at them askance, and you’re like, you can’t make heads or tails of those.”

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