Rookie Rahm should already have eyes on the Major prizes

It’s hard to think of Jon Rahm as the Rookie of the Year on the European Tour because he has almost been too good.

Rookies are not normally ranked No. 5 in the world and don’t sit fourth on the Race to Dubai. That highlights the seamless transition Rahm has made to the professional ranks.

What’s more remarkable, though, is the fact the Spaniard only joined the European Tour at the start of March and has only played four regular events to accrue his winnings, which are in excess of £2.5m.

The 23-year-old Spaniard would also have been Rookie of the Year on the PGA Tour, but for Xander Schauffele’s win at the Tour Championship to deny him.

Given his success as an amateur in college golf, it’s no real surprise to see how Rahm has quickly progressed.

There has been no real bedding-in process. He was ready to compete from the word go and that’s why he won in San Diego in January and then the Irish Open in July.

His ranking shows that he is a player who should be competing to win Majors. That must be the aim for next year.

In this current era, young players are not afraid. Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas were in a hurry to get to the top.

They have all been Major winners by the age of 24. I rate Rahm in the same bracket.

He needs to win a Major quickly, though, because there is no time like the present. For that, he can look at feloow countryman Sergio Garcia.

When he was runner-up to Tiger Woods as an 18-year-old at the 1999 US PGA at Medinah, we thought it was only a matter of time before Sergio won one.

We were right, but there was the small matter of an 18-year wait until his triumph at The Masters back in April.

During that long wait, Sergio suffered near misses and collected scars and unwanted doubts as new players emerged.

That is the scenario that Rahm will be desperate to avoid.

People have said that his fiery temper could cost him in Majors, as it’s done on occasions this year, but I’m not having that.

It’s less of an anger and more of a competitive streak that burns within him. He knows what he’s capable of and that’s why the anger comes out.

But all the very best players have had that – Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tiger. It helps to drive them on.

Rahm has joined some famous names as a recipient of the Sir Henry Cotton Award, like Tony Jacklin, Sir Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle and Jose Maria Olazabal.

I was also the proud winner of this in 1968 and I received the award from the man himself. But I was rather jealous of the giant silver trophy Rahm was given in Dubai last week.

Nearly 50 years ago, I finished 32nd on the points list and had played a lot of tournaments. I was the archetypal 19-year-old rookie, learning his way.

I’d never been to America and guys like Palmer and Nicklaus were players I read about, rather than thought about competing against.

Today, Rahm is already a global golfer and will only be thinking about taking that next Major step.