Euan McLean
THE VOICE OF GOLF AMERICA has Major golf in a stranglehold but one European looks increasingly ready to loosen that grip with a pre-Ryder Cup boost.
And if Jon Rahm manages to do so at June’s US Open of all places the Spaniard will have come full circle 12 months after spectacularly exposing the biggest weakness in his game – his temperament.
It was at Erin Hills that Rahm suffered his most notorious meltdown en route to missing the cut, swearing as he threw his wedge to the ground then kicking it before slamming his putter into the 14th green.
His histrionics were so shocking he had to apologise to playing partners Rickie Fowler and Hideki Matsuyama, later admitting he was deeply embarrassed by his failure to cope with a “constant battle” with his emotions.
Now there are signs the 23-year-old has learned to tame the beast with the increasingly mature performances of a guy who bears all the hallmarks of a Major winner in waiting.
His fourth place at The Masters was more than just his highest placing at one of the big four – it was further encouraging evidence of a man showing the patience needed to prevail at the Majors.
Add to that physical and mental fortitude, as displayed in his win at the Spanish Open on Sunday having jumped on a draining flight back to his homeland immediately after his Augusta heroics.
His home Open title continues an impressive rapid rise of a young man whose winning ratio is only bettered by Tiger Woods in his first two years on Tour.
Five titles from his first 45 appearances as a pro is a staggering win rate made all the more impressive by the fields he beat to claim last July’s Irish Open and the seasonending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
With his booming long game and growing selfdiscipline he is shaping IN RECORD SPORT up to be one of Thomas Bjorn’s key men when he almost certainly makes his Ryder Cup debut in France come September.
Don’t be surprised if the title of Major champion is added to his CV by then as with three wins from his last 10 events he is starting to look like the form player.
Shinnecock Hills on Long Island will undoubtedly test that temperament to the limit as US Open setups are notoriously fiendish.
But 12 months on from that Erin Hills tantrum he will arrive with the gravitas of a character used to coming a long way in a short time.
After all we’re talking about a guy who barely spoke a word of English when he left Spain at 17 for Arizona State University.
He used his passion for rap music to help pick up the language – some of it pretty rude if the work of his favourites Eminem and Jay-Z are anything to go by.
Within a year he was as fluent as his swing was fluid as he ascended to No.1 in the world amateur rankings and finished tied fifth in an early taste of the PGA Tour as an amateur in the Phoenix Open.
With his tall frame perhaps it’s no surprise he makes big strides fast – and after this best Major performance yet Rahm looks ready to turn them into leaps and bounds towards elite success.
As the man said: “I didn’t panic at Augusta, which is the one thing I really wanted to learn about myself.
“I felt really comfortable, loved the situation and loved the hunt. Hopefully I have proved to everyone I learn fast.”