Upon arriving in Adelaide for the LIV Golf event, Jon Rahm found himself contemplating a unique challenge: the selection of ‘walk out music’ for his shot at the par-three 12th hole, known as the ‘Watering Hole.’ While back-to-back rounds of 62 from eventual winner Talor Gooch and Chase Koepka’s hole-in-one added pressure, Rahm recognized the potential impact of choosing the right song to boost his performance.
Rahm, who has won two majors, considered the positive reinforcement that music can provide, stating, ‘It does help when you have the positive reinforcement of a song that you like. You just go in there with a little bit of a different feeling.’ However, he also acknowledged the need for balance, particularly on this challenging hole, where distance control is crucial.
Australian star Cam Smith shared his experience of confronting the ‘Watering Hole’ for the first time, admitting to nerves and hitting his worst shot of the week. He emphasized the need to consider factors beyond a normal par three. Fellow Aussie Marc Leishman, who performed a ‘shoey’ after a successful shot on Sunday, advised his teammates to ‘just remember to breathe.’
Leishman, who will play with Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones in the opening round, highlighted the intimidating atmosphere despite the relatively short distance of the shot. He described the crowd’s enthusiasm and the memorable moment of finishing the tournament with a ‘shoey’ of Leishman Lager.
Rahm will play alongside Smith in a feature group, bringing an added layer of anticipation to the ‘Watering Hole’ experience.
