LIV Golf stars John Rahm and Patrick Reed were Ryder Cup opponents six months ago and again find themselves representing separate teams on the Saudi-backed tour
Patrick Reed put team loyalties to one side before LIV Golf Hong Kong by offering a helping hand to Caleb Surratt at the behest of Jon Rahm.
Surratt, 19, is the youngest player on the tour after only turning professional earlier this year and plays for Rahm’s Legion XIII GC. Four starts into the season, the teenager’s captain called in a favour from Reed, who is on Dustin Johnson ‘s 4Aces GC.
The 2018 Masters champion is renowned for having one of the best short games in the world, and Rahm turned to him as Surratt worked on his wedge game in Hong Kong. Reed then delivered a flop shot maste
Tips about keeping both legs still and letting the backhand go followed as Surratt put the advice into action. Reed took a hands-on role with his fellow American, holding his wedge between Surratt’s legs to dissuade the youngster from moving back into it after the flop shot.
The improvement was almost immediately noticeable. “There you go. A lot better. That strike sounded great, too,” Reed remarked as Surratt hit a final flop shot.
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rclass to the Walker Cup winner by breaking down his approach.
Before the impromptu session even began, the world number six assured Surratt: “If you ever need help with anything, just let me know.” Reed then proceeded to provide pointers about standing square and ke
As the Hong Kong tournament got underway, the teenager rebounded from a season-worst two-over event in Jeddah to finish three-under. That left the teenager just two shots short of Reed and ahead of his Legion XIII teammate Kieran Vincent, who finished dead last on nine-under.
Rahm, meanwhile, came joint-eighth on ten-under, three shots ahead of Tyrrell Hatton, the final team member. The Spaniard has previously spoken highly of his fellow Masters winner’s short game, so it should be no surprise that the ‘ Captain America ‘ is who he turned to.
Before teeing it up against each other in the 2022 WGC Match Play, Rahm spoke about their relationship after five years together on the PGA Tour.
We get along well,” he acknowledged. “Haven’t really spent that much time with him. I’ve asked a few times about a couple of tips and some things that I like how he does.
“Obviously, his short game is one of the best in the world, so I’ve tried to learn from him a few times, but not much. He’s not the most talkative person on the golf course, and neither am I, so we’re out there competing.
“I wish I had more to tell you. I wouldn’t say we’re friends, but we don’t hate each other either. We haven’t spent enough time with each other to actually say he’s my friend, but we get along good.”
