Jon Rahm said he is hoping to draw on previous successes ahead of this week's WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play as he bids to hold on to his place at the top of the Official Golf World Ranking.
The Spaniard has made it out of the group stages on two of four previous occasions, and is hoping to make that three out of five this week as he attempts to hold off Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay and Scottie Scheffler's bids to displace him as World Number One.
His previous best in this tournament was a second place finish to Dustin Johnson in 2017, and last year he topped his group with two and a half points before he was ultimately beaten in the last eight by Scheffler.
A clear fan of match-play, Rahm credits the one-on-one format as something that excites him.
"It's a tournament I always look forward to," said Rahm, who was also the stand-out player in Europe’s Ryder Cup side in 2021, taking home 3.5 points from five matches in Wisconsin
"It's a nice break in the thick of the season. When things are starting to get a little bit more intense, to have an event in which it's match play, it's fun, it's a lot more exciting, at least for me. Not a lot more, but a little bit different vibe, where you can just play one-on-one golf and just take care of the guy in front of you instead of a four-day grind, especially weeks like PLAYERS where you get weather delays.
"Looking forward to it and excited to be back. I've had some success here, so hopefully I can repeat it and have another good week."
This week, Rahm will come up against Patrick Reed, Sebastián Munoz and Cameron Young in the round-robin group matches, but said while he knows it will be a difficult group, he hasn't given much pause to think about the individual matches.
"I haven't thought too much about it. I played with Sebastián last year and I was able to get out ahead, but it was a tight match all the way to 18. So hopefully this year I can play like I have been tee to green and maybe get it done earlier.
"The other two, I don't think I've played Patrick in this event, and I definitely haven't played Cameron. Both tough competitors. We all know what Patrick Reed can do. We all know how he plays in match play and how well he can do, and Cameron has been playing great golf all year.
"Like every group it'll be a difficult one. You've got to play good golf, but like I said, I'm excited about it."
One match up that many will be anticipating is his one against Patrick Reed. But as much as Rahm understood why that match-up has been singled out, he also pointed out the unpredictability of the format means it could not be the toughest he faces.
"Like it's just -- you don't know what's going to happen, and I think it's one to be aware of just because we all know how good his short game can be. He's a tough competitor. He's not going to give it to you easy. But like that, everybody, right? Anybody can show up and have their best day and make you have a hard time.
"One of my toughest matches out here that I ended up losing was against a good friend of mine who's Chez Reavie, who I think most people wouldn't think much about. Again, it's match play, and on this course, it doesn't matter.
"On paper, it does have some appeal to it. I can see that."
Rahm arrives in Austin in good form, having only finished outside the top 21 once this season; a tie for 55th at the weather affected Players Championship.
And with plenty at stake, Rahm outlined what he thought was the key for him to perform well in this event.
"It's all so personal. I think we all think different. I think it's never giving up. I know it sounds so cliche, but if you're 5 down, six holes to play, try to win on 6. It's never over until it's over, and momentum is a massive thing.
"One swing can change it all, and it can happen. You don't need to play perfect. You don't need to do anything special, you just need to play golf and beat the man in front of you. If you just keep that mindset of being aggressive and just fighting for every shot, you should probably do fine in match play.
"I think no matter how many holes we play, we all know where our game is. I don't need anybody outside myself to tell me what's going on. I can tell you perfectly fine.
"It's match play, so it doesn't matter how you play, just get it done. Score one less than the player you're playing against on each hole, and you'll be fine.
"You don't need to make it look pretty, you just need to make it actually work and hopefully win."
