If you are a golf fan you probably already know the adventures of Jon Rahm; professional golfer from Vizcaya who has dedicated his life to sport since he was very young. He was number 1 for 60 weeks in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, which makes him the golfer who has been number one in the world for the longest time. In 2017, he won the San Diego Open, the Irish Open and the Dubai World Championship. In addition, and if that were not enough, Jon Rahm is considered the best golfer in the world. He is the first Spanish golfer to win the US Open, a competition that he led in the summer of 2021. Now, if you want to know some interesting facts about the Basque golfer's personal and professional life, keep reading. This post will interest you.
1. Where and when was Jon Rahm born?
The golfer was born on November 10, 1994 in Barrica, a municipality in Vizcaya belonging to the Basque Country. His mother, Ángela Rodríguez, was born in Madrid, while his father, Edorta Rahm, was born in Bilbao. His name comes from the Basque tradition and his first surname from Switzerland, as does his paternal descent. In fact, his family owned the first Swiss bar in Bilbao; Swiss Coffee, where their ancestors proudly worked to serve their clientele.
2. Did you know that Rahm's grandfather was a very important figure for Athletic Club de Bilbao for 33 years?
Jon's paternal grandfather, Sabin Rahm, was for 33 years the official delegate of the alevins, juveniles and children ofAthletic Club of Bilbao, having seen the great stars of the Basque club grow up, making history at Lezama. Together with Manolo Morán, Jon's grandfather was in charge of the players' travel and also of communicating the results of the decisive matches to the press. Sabin Rahm will always be a legend of Athletic, having managed to make many of the members who have worn the red and white shirt today remember him.
3. Do you know the Basque passion for sports?
In addition to golf, Jon Rahm has repeatedly acknowledged his passion for many other sports. From tennis to kung-fu, the Basque has practiced multiple disciplines since he was very young. Due to the profession of his paternal grandfather, someone who has always supported him when he opted for golf, Jon has shown his support for Athletic Club de Bilbao on numerous occasions. In several interviews he has confessed that he finally chose golf because it was the sport that best suited his competitive nature.
4. Did you know that Jon is a great friend of Aritz Aduriz?
Given his fanaticism for the Athletic Club Bilbao, the golfer has created great friendships in the stands of San Mamés. Among them stands out the former footballer Aritz Aduriz, Athletic's top scorer in the 21st century and a great legend for the club. In addition, he shares his passion for golf with him, a discipline that Aritz practices as hobby in his free time.
5. ¿When did Jon Rahm enter the world of golf?
Unlike many families of athletes, no one in Rahm's family played golf, which is why his talent for the sport was so surprising. So where did this passion for golf come from? According to Rahm himself, as a child he was a very active child, so his parents signed him up for a number of sports such as football, canoeing, paddle tennis and kung fu.Without hesitation, Rahm chose golf because he felt it was the most competitive sport.
The professional golfer began his golfing career at the early age of 10 when his parents signed him up for the Martiartu Sports Club in Erandio (Vizcaya). From that very moment, and after having seen that the Basque had talent, his family decided to enroll him in a club where he could fully dedicate himself to his great passion. The chosen venue was the Larrabea Golf Club, located in Álava. From that moment on, all Jon did was grow as a golfer, and of course, his talent and perseverance have led him to achieve great success in the world of golf.
6. Where did Jon Rahm study?
After finishing his secondary studies in the Basque Country, the golfer received a scholarship to study at Arizona State University, and at just 18 years old he moved to the United States to pursue his great passion: golf. Although his beginnings abroad were difficult, the Basque quickly enrolled in the golf club. Arizona State Sun Devils, where he won eleven college tournaments and met one of his greatest supporters ever since: Tim Mickelson. He was his manager and right-hand man since the young man arrived in Arizona with great enthusiasm and a great road ahead of him.
7. Did you know that the Englishman almost ruined his career in Arizona?
Although he is now fluent in English thanks to his years in the United States and the help of his wife Kelley Cahil, this was not always the case. When he moved to Arizona to study at Arizona State University, the Basque singer had no command of the English language at all. His difficulty in handling the language was so great that his coach and manager, Tim Mickelson, came to believe that this handicap would ruin his career and he would fail the course. Despite his fear, the Basque singer got his act together and managed to overcome the obstacles with the help of songs by artists such as Eminem and Kendrick Lamar.
On the other hand, he surpassed the famous Jack Nicklaus at just 20 years old. Nicklaus' record was 18 majors and not even Tiger Wood had managed to surpass the figures of the so-called Golden Bear. In 2014 Rahm scored 23 strokes under, thus breaking Nicklaus' record from 1960.
8. Why has your strong character played tricks on you?
Jon Rahm's competitive nature has caused his anger to play tricks on him throughout his career. When he played on the university golf team in Arizona, his coach and manager, Tim Mickelson, had to impose harsh punishments on him to make him see that his bad temper would not bring him good things in his career. In addition, his desire to win produced certain clashes with the Federation in his Amateur stage. In some championships he has broken more than one club due to the frustration of the Basque after not having achieved his objectives on the course. With the passing of the years and experience, Rahm has learned to control his anger after a bad shot or a defeat.
9. What was the promise Jon Rahm made to his parents?
When the Basque player began to realise the potential he had to achieve whatever he set out to do on the golf course, he promised his parents that he would not join a federation until he finished his studies in communications at university. Despite being ready to make the leap to professional sport in 2015, when he finished fifth at the Phoenix Open, he kept his promise and turned down great opportunities until he finished his university career.
10.What was the reason for Rahm's forced withdrawal from the Memorial Tournament?
The Basque player took part in the annual tournament held in Ohio, United States, with the clear conviction that he would be in a very good position, but what he did not know was that he would be forced to withdraw from the competition after having tested positive for Covid-19. This was a great frustration for him since at the time of his withdrawal he occupied first place in the tournament classification with a 6-stroke advantage over the next opponent.
Rahm has his own club called “Friends of Jon Rahm” founded by a group from Larrabea, which was his club since he started in the world of golf. The club is chaired by Joseba Cedrún, brother of a former Athletic player.
If there is one thing that is clear, it is that the Basque golfer's success has not come about by chance. His competitive character, desire for improvement and perseverance have made the Basque golfer the number 1 golfer in the world. Without a doubt, his family and friends must be very proud of the path taken by Jon Rahm, a true sportsman from head to toe, and also a person loved and admired by all golf fans.
