“They've always been around tournament” – Jon Rahm reflects on playing while expecting his third child, says he won’t leave until told to
Jon Rahm recently opened up about playing in official tournaments while his wife, Kelley Cahill, is pregnant with their third child. The Spanish golfer confirmed the good news about his baby earlier this year by sharing a picture with his wife and children on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
This week, Rahm entered the stellar field of the 2024 LIV Golf Chicago event, ranked number one in the season standings. He shot 1-under in the first round of the tournament and, in a press conference, discussed playing while expecting his third child.
Jon Rahm, feeling like a "seasoned veteran" in parenting with this being his third child, expressed his readiness for any situation, including the possibility of “hitting the exit button mid-round.” Reflecting on the dual responsibilities of preparing for his new child and competing in tournaments, the two-time Major winner said (via ASAP Sports):
"Third time around. They've always been around tournament play. They've never come in the off-season. I'll consider myself a seasoned veteran at this point of playing with the possibility of hitting the exit button mid-round," Rahm said.
"It's just life at that point; nothing you can control. I've got to go and play golf, and if at some point they tell me it's time to go, then I'm gone. But I can't be thinking about that. Now after the round I can start thinking about it and call them and see how it's going, but it's all business until I get told that I need to go," he added.
Jon Rahm and his wife have been blessed with two beautiful children. Their son, Kepa, was born on April 3, 2021, and a year later, on August 5, 2022, they welcomed their second child, Eneka.
"It wasn't my best by any stretch"- Jon Rahm opens up about his first-round performance at LIV Golf Chicago
It was a challenging day for Jon Rahm at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. The 2023 Masters winner managed only two birdies and made a bogey on the 16th hole. He struggled throughout the round, carding a 1-under 69.
In the press conference following the tournament on Friday, September 13, the former World No. 1 reflected on his performance and discussed his difficulties. He said (via ASAP Sports):
"I think it's one of those days where my score is better than how I played today. It wasn't my best by any stretch, and I had some really good up-and-downs. I think it was 1, 3 and 12 to make pars, tap-in pars to keep the round going," Jon Rahm said.
Despite the setback, Rahm remains hopeful as he still has two more rounds to play and added:
"But we've got two more days. Hopefully we'll keep it going and get a little bit better every day."
Rahm finished in a tie for 11th place at the LIV Golf Chicago after the first round, with a score of 1-under. Brooks Koepka, who defeated Rahm in a playoff at the last LIV Golf event in Greenbrier to secure his fifth win on the circuit, took the lead at the Chicago event. He shot a bogey-free round with eight birdies for a score of 8-under. The tournament will have its third and final round on Sunday, September 15.