John Rahm and Patrick Reed, two of LIV Golf’s top players, faced off in the Ryder Cup six months ago and are now playing for different teams on the Saudi-sponsored circuit.
At the request of Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed put aside team allegiance in order to assist Caleb Surratt at LIV Golf Hong Kong.
Playing for Rahm’s Legion XIII GC, Surratt, 19, is the youngest player on the tour having only turned professional earlier this year. The captain of the teenage team requested a favor from Reed, who is on Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC, four starts into the season.
Rahm looked to Surratt, who was honing his wedge game in Hong Kong, as the 2018 Masters champion is known for having one of the best short games in the world. The Walker Cup winner was then given a flop shot masterclass by Reed, who dissected his strategy.
The world number six gave Surratt this assurance before the impromptu session even started: “If you ever need help with anything, just let me know.” Reed continued by giving advice on how to stand square and maintain your chest’s center, or what he refers to as your fulcrum point, above the ball.
Surratt applied the advice, which included holding both legs still and letting the backhand go. With his fellow American, Reed played a more active role, putting his wedge between Surratt’s legs to stop the young player from reentering it after the flop shot.
The difference was almost immediately apparent. “There you have it. Much improved. Reed said, “That strike sounded great, too,” as Surratt made the last-second flop shot.
The teenager recovered from a season-worst two-over event in Jeddah to finish three-under as the Hong Kong tournament got underway. After that, the teenager was only two shots behind Reed and ahead of Kieran Vincent, his teammate from Legion XIII, who shot a nine-under par final round.
The last member of the team, Tyrrell Hatton, was three shots behind Rahm at joint-eighth on ten-under. It’s hardly surprising that the Spanish player turned to the ‘Captain America,’ as he has previously praised the short game of his fellow Masters victor.
After spending five years together on the PGA Tour, Rahm talked about their relationship before they faced off in the 2022 WGC Match Play.
“We have a good relationship,” he said. “I haven’t actually had a lot of time with him. I’ve asked him several times for advice and for certain things that I think he does really well.
“I’ve tried to learn from him a few times, but not much, because his short game is among the best in the world. We’re competing because neither of us is the talkative type when it comes to golf.
“I wish I could tell you more things. We don’t hate each other, but I wouldn’t say we’re friends either. We get along well, but we haven’t spent enough time together to call him a friend.”
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