Jon Rahm hopes he can go one step further when he returns to action at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at the Austin Country Club.
The Spaniard has not competed since finishing tied for 20th at the WGC – Mexico Championship earlier this month and has only played one further event in America since the beginning of February as he rested up ahead of the gruelling spring and summer stretch of the season.
Rahm was a frustrated spectator as he watched fellow European Tour member Rory McIlroy overturn a two-shot deficit heading into the final round to storm to a three-stroke victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week, and is hoping that burning desire to get back into the action will aid his title tilt in Austin.
"I took four to five weeks off, which to be honest last week I was pulling my hair a little bit because I really wanted to compete, especially seeing that leaderboard at the Arnold Palmer, I really wanted to be there.
"My body needed some rest, and hopefully I'll get that ambition a little more here than it usually is on a match play week."
Rahm overcame a slow start in last year's final to mount a stunning comeback before losing one up to World Number One Dustin Johnson, which saw him cement his place in the top ten of the Official World Golf Rankings in his rookie season.
The World Number Three was trailing five down after eight holes but managed to take the match to the final hole in Texas before the American closed out his fifth World Golf Championship title of his career, with the 23 year old hoping he can learn from his mistakes and progress in a format he enjoys.
"It's something that I love because it's the only time that it's actually one-on-one. Golf is usually you against yourself or 130 other people.
To be honest last week I was pulling my hair a little bit because I really wanted to compete - Jon Rahm
"This time it's you against the other player competing with you. It's much more mental than a regular tournament week.
"Hitting the right shots at the right time, making the right putts at the right time constricts the momentum in such a way that it can shift the match toward one player real easily.
"We saw it last year in the final. I derailed on the front nine. I was five down on the eighth tee, DJ made a couple of mistakes and the momentum changed and I was able to make a comeback.
"That's the deal with match play, it's not over until it's over. So it makes it that much more fun."
