Rahm arrived at Augusta National as a pre-tournament favorite but opened with a 78, matching one of the worst rounds of his major career. He ultimately finished tied for 38th after posting rounds of 70, 73 and 68, with a final-round 68 signaling a renewed confidence that would carry into his next event.
The breakthrough, Rahm explained, came from a nearly heated argument on the putting green on Saturday when Hayes was attempting to explain a swing concept Rahm didn’t fully grasp. “Once it clicked what he was trying to say and what I needed to work on on that range session Saturday afternoon, it was so much better,” Rahm said, describing how the message clicked and the work on the range followed.
Mexico City provided the on-cield proof of that reset. Rahm opened the final round with a strong start and pulled away to win by six shots, finishing at 21-under and beating fellow Spaniard David Puig. It was his second LIV Golf win of 2026 and cemented his status as the circuit’s top performer this season, while also moving him back into the top 20 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in more than two years.
Hayes has been Rahm’s caddie since 2016 and remains the only caddie Rahm has used professionally. Their partnership, underscored by a candid, honest dynamic, has yielded major titles in the past, including the 2021 U.S. Open and the 2023 Masters. Rahm’s Augusta celebration after the victory highlighted that bond, and the Mexico City triumph underscored how direct communication can translate into sustained performance on tour.
