Jon Rahm walked off Augusta National on Thursday with a 78, and he walked back on Friday and shot 70. The 31-year-old is still in it.

The Spanish golfer had been one of the Masters favorites coming in and had not finished outside the top five all LIV Golf season. However, Thursday fell apart from the first few holes, with bogeys at two of the first three, more trouble at six and nine, and a double bogey at the 13th that he couldn't shake.

"To make such a mistake from what could have been a good birdie look, it's a big problem," Rahm said after round one.

Zero birdies, six over, T73, and a real shot at missing the cut for the first time in his Masters career. He came back Friday and made it through, and after signing for his 70, Rahm spoke to reporters and explained what happened on Thursday.

"Yesterday was just an anomaly where everything that could go wrong went wrong," he said, per Flushing It on X. "I felt really good all year besides yesterday."

The 78 equaled the highest score of his major career, matching his rounds at the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock and the 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie.

"I'm going to need a heck of a round tomorrow to give myself a chance," Rahm said. "And even then, it might be a little too far away."

After a Near Miss, Jon Rahm Survives the Cut but Remains Far From Contention

Rahm has recovered from slow starts in majors before, but those efforts have rarely led to contention.

At Augusta, Rahm has typically built his position early, including during his 2023 win, rather than chasing from behind. This time, he is in the unfamiliar position of chasing from behind at Augusta.

He's still got two rounds left at Augusta to worry about.

Do you think Jon Rahm can still contend at the 2026 Masters? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav