Jon Rahm, the 2023 Masters winner, faced a challenging 2026 Masters tournament, finishing T-38 with a total score of one-over par. This result marks his second-worst finish in ten appearances at Augusta National Golf Club, with only a T-45 finish in 2024 being worse. Rahm's performance included an opening round of 78 followed by rounds of 73 and 68. He struggled with the course's firm and fast conditions, hitting less than 60% of greens throughout the tournament. In reflecting on his performance, Rahm expressed the need to adjust his preparation methods for future tournaments, acknowledging that he felt underprepared for the unique challenges presented by the course this year. He noted the unusual conditions of the greens and fairways, which were notably dry and yellow, and mentioned that he learned valuable lessons about what not to do in such circumstances.