JON RAHM
Like DeChambeau, Rahm has only played at Bethpage Black once as a professional and missed the cut. That shouldn’t be a cause for concern, as Rahm has since elevated his game and is a perfect fit for Bethpage Black on paper. Rahm ranked 2nd behind only DeChambeau in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee this season and has gained strokes off the tee in 29 consecutive starts worldwide.
Rahm should be a beneficiary of the United States team setting up the course to create short approach shots into greens. The Legion XIII captain ranked 6th in LIV Golf in Strokes Gained: Approach on short approach shots (less than 150 yards).
Rahm has had some success in the Northeast as well. He has three top-10 finishes at TPC Boston, two 3rd place finishes at the Northern Trust at Liberty National (2019 and 2021), a T4 finish at TPC Boston and a T12 finish at the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, MA.
TYRRELL HATTON
Hatton hasn’t had a great deal of success in the Northeast, but saw the course at the 2019 PGA Championship, finishing 48th. The Englishman’s recent U.S. Open success should prove to be a positive sign for his ability to play a long and difficult setup. However, the potential easier setup this week could go against Hatton, who thrives when having to grind out difficult par saves.
Hatton has improved his finish in the U.S. Open in four consecutive seasons and should be confident on the big stage in his current form. He had his best major performance this season, finishing T4 at Oakmont. With the greens in the U.S. majors typically rolling fast, that should suit Hatton well for Bethpage Black this week. On LIV Golf, he ranked 4th in Strokes Gained: Short Approach and 13th in Strokes Gained: Putting, which will be two important factors this week.
Hatton’s match play experience and his camaraderie with Rahm – with both players excelling on short approach shots all year – should make him one of the most reliable players for the European side this week.
