Rahm masterclass akin to Ballesteros

The boy in a hurry left the rest standing. Again.

If Europe harboured any remaining doubt that in Jon Rahm they have a superstar with the potential to match all the Spanish greats, then it was eradicated yesterday with his emphatic Irish Open win.

This was only the 22-year-old’s second regular European Tour event, but he looked like an old magical hand as he blew away the Portstewart field in conditions that were far from straightforward. Not even a rules controversy could derail this remarkable young man.

When he tapped in for a 24-under total, there were six shots back to Southend’s Matthew Southgate and Aberdeen’s Richie Ramsay in second. So, having broken his PGA Tour maiden at Torrey Pines in January with 65, Rahm conquered his own continent’s circuit at an equally stunning setting with the same final-round score.

When Rory Mcilroy, the tournament host, sent his congratulations, he did so in the knowledge that here is a talent with which the game’s elite will long have to wrestle.

After just 25 events and 12 months in the paid ranks, Rahm rises to world No8 and, after this links masterclass, will be many experts’ pick to prevail at next week’s Open Championship at Birkdale. A rather famous countryman of Rahm’s was the same age when he won his first major at Lytham in 1979. The late Seve Ballesteros would be as thrilled as anyone at the emergence of Rahm. The great conquistador would love his attitude, too. “I know what I’m capable of,” Rahm said, after collecting £905,000. “I can imagine there will be some expectations. But that’s why I’m taking a week off, to regroup and go to the Open like nothing happened, but knowing in my mind I can perform at my best.”

Rahm even claimed that for the first three days here he was operating nowhere near his best. But when he needed to produce, the highest quality flowed.

In fact, the biggest danger arrived on the 13th tee in the figure of the Tour’s referee Andy Mcfee.

Viewers had called in to say that Rahm had replaced his ball in the wrong position on the sixth green. After moving his marker out of the line of playing partner Daniel Im, Rahm appeared to replace his ball in a different spot. But Mcfee elected to impose no penalty.

Spain have yet another Irish Open champion to follow Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.