By Scott Grayston
Jon Rahm proved he is one of the best players in the world when he took six weeks off to get married last season then returned to win the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship and seal the Race to Dubai title. The Spaniard has risen to World No.2 behind Rory McIlroy and it doesn’t look like he will take his foot off the gas anytime soon.
“Rory McIlroy’s in great shape but there’s no doubt that he’s going to have challenges,” says Europe’s 2014 Ryder Cup winning captain Paul McGinley. “I think the biggest challenger in the next five years is going to be Jon Rahm. The Spaniard plays that powerful game and there’s no weakness.
“He has a huge desire, huge ambition and when you get to the very top, that’s the separator and I think Rahm has got that. He’s not going to stop until he becomes World No.1 and wins several Majors.
“I don’t think money is motivation for him. He’s very aware of following in the footsteps of Jose Maria Olazabal, Sergio Garcia and particularly Seve Ballesteros.
Records
“He’s aware of their records and he wants to be the most dominant Spanish player of all time and I think he’s on a crusade to do that.
“That’s what keeps his fire burning – it’s not money or PGA Tour titles that keeps him motivated, it’s putting his name down in history as the greatest Spanish player of all time.
The 25 year old has six European Tour and three PGA Tour titles to his name and finished third in the US Open last season. It seems to only be a matter of time before he becomes a Major champion because he has the right people around him and surroundings to prosper to the very top in the sport.
“He’s very happy in his personal life,” McGinley adds. “He’s just got married to the girl he met at college in America. He didn’t know a word of English when he went to Arizona State so he’s come a long way since he started college seven years ago.
“He’s got a lot of great things in place: a good management team around him, good physical trainers, a great relationship with his wife, he’s living in a warm climate in Arizona where he’s comfortable in his surroundings, he goes back to Spain a lot – everything is in place for him to elevate into the top echelon of golf.
“You’d be a brave man to argue against him becoming World No.1 at some stage. He’s the real deal and is the most exciting player to come on the scene since Rory McIlroy.”
