Ryder Cup hero Pinero hails Rahmbo as the Jack to Seve’s Arnie
In Spain, and across the golfing world, there will only ever be one Seve.
But that doesn’t mean Jon Rahm can’t be the Jack Nicklaus to Ballesteros’ Arnold Palmer, according to former Ryder Cup player, Manuel Pinero.
Pinero won three points out of four as Seve’s partner for Europe’s historic Ryder Cup win at The Belfry in 1985, and he has been a keen follower of Rahm ever since his junior days at home in Spain.
The 25- year- old from the Basque Country, who revels in his ‘Rahmbo’ nickname, has always spoken of emulating his hero.
Ballesteros finished with five Majors, which could be within the Bilbao golfer’s sights.
But Pinero knows he will never match the legacy of his late friend.
“This is a bit like Palmer and Nicklaus,” he told The Sunday Post.
“Nicklaus is the No. 1 in the history of the game with his 18 Majors. But Palmer won the hearts of the spectators.
“Palmer played in such a way that he attracted so many people to the game.
“Severiano was the same. His way of playing, his technique, how he was on the course. He brought so many things to golf.
“He was a player that was always worth the admission fee to go and watch. He had that elegance and extraordinary talent.
“Others – like Sir Nick Faldo with six – won more Majors. But Severiano was a genius.
“Jon doesn’t have so much of that, but he could win any Major. He’s a complete player and he can play on any course.
“Severiano was more for The Open and The Masters, where it was a bit wider off the tee. Jon’s an all-course player.”
Now based in Sotogrande in southeren Spain, Pinero is delighted to have seen Rahm emulate Seve to become only the second Spaniard to be World No.1, after his recent three-stroke win at The Memorial Tournament.
The next step for Rahm is to target Major glory, starting at the US PGA Championship in San Francisco this week, the first Major of this delayed 2020 season.
Some players have reached golf ’s summit and fallen back. But in Rahm, Pinero sees an exceptionally-driven man.
“It’s no surprise that he’s No. 1,” Pinero admitted. “I expected it.
“Jon is a very solid, consistent player. He has everything to be No.1 – or at least in and around the top five – for many years to come.
“I really like Rory Mcilroy as a player, his style and the class that he has. But Jon is more consistent. Almost every tournament he plays, he’s in the top 10.
“Jon has the game and he has the character and, what’s more, he has a great team around him. His family give him a lot of stability, which is so, so important for a player.
“In his short career, Jon has met all the goals he has set. He likes to challenge himself.
“The next one will be to win a Major as quickly as possible.
“If he does, he’ll win several. He’s more than good enough and is a player who can define his era.
“But it’s important that he does not obsess about it. He must play as he has been every week, trying to win every event.
“In golf, history is defined by the Majors. But you have to turn up ready to compete every week.”
Rahm’s Major record has seen him have four top-10s, with third at the 2019 US Open his best result.
At times, his temperament has let him down, with the Spaniard reacting angrily and unable to mentally recover from a mistake.
But Pinero does not see this being a problem any more.
He adds: “When Jon first started, lots of people were saying to me that he had a bad character.
“He was getting too angry on the course, and was losing control.
“I like players who have that inner rage, and show it.
“Now, he’s got a lot more control over his demeanour than three or four years ago, without a doubt.
“But, for me, a player must have that rage, character and desire to push himself to success.”