Rahm inspired by Garcia’s win
ERIN: Spain’s Jon Rahm has rocketed up the rankings to stand 10th in the world one year after turning professional, and having seen his friend and compatriot Sergio Garcia win a major he is inspired to follow suit.
Garcia ended nearly two decades of frustration with his playoff victory over England’s Justin Rose at the Masters in April.
“It was something incredible,” Rahm said about the long-awaited victory by Garcia, who as a 19-year-old challenged Tiger Woods over the closing holes before finishing runner-up at the 1999 PGA Championship. “He’s been so close so many times.”
Rahm said the setting and the timing were perfect for role model Garcia.
“With all the places, and all the possible days he could have won, being Seve’s (the late Ballesteros’ 60th) birthday at Augusta, I don’t think you would ever get much more special than that for him,” he told reporters on Monday after practising ahead of tomorrow’s first round of the US Open. To be able to see him succeed the way he did, I thought it was absolutely incredible. And finish the way he did. It was absolutely amazing.”
Rahm said Garcia’s thrilling victory touched him personally.
“He’s always been one of my idols, one of the people I looked up to,” he said.
“And as a Spaniard it was something amazing. I can’t tell you how happy Spain was. It was a huge moment.”
Rahm, 22, said Garcia’s triumph fuelled his own quest for a first major title.
A win by Rahm at Erin Hills would extend a run of six straight first-time major winners following Garcia, Jimmy Walker (2016 PGA), Henrik Stenson (2016 Open), Dustin Johnson (2016 US Open), Danny Willett (2016 Masters) Open. A lone oak tree, one of the very few trees on the course, between the 15th and 16th holes at Erin Hills, the venue for this week’s US
and Jason Day (2015 PGA).
“It just motivates me,” said the stocky, powerful Spaniard, who ranks as a long driver despite taking one of the shortest backswings on the tour.
“We’ve played together a bunch this year,” Rahm said. “I see what he can do. And I know what I’m capable of. It makes me believe that I do think I’ll be able to win a major some day. And it makes me want to work harder.
“A close friend of mine winning a tournament motivates
me. A Spaniard winning a major is always going to motivate me.”
Coming to relatively new Erin Hills, which is hosting its maiden major championship, gives the world’s best golfers a taste of the unknown this week at the US Open.
But being a US Open, players can expect a mental and physical challenge at the year’s second major. The 11-year-old, tree-less course 56 km northwest of Milwaukee stretches beyond 7 000 metres, where
calf-length fescue grass waves in the wind alongside fairways.
“It’s one of the toughest mental tests that you’re going to encounter out there, and it’s important to be fresh, and at least I think I’ve got that part,” Stenson told reporters.
“I’ve had a week off in Sweden and haven’t really focused much on golf. So at least we’re fresh.”
Rahm said he also was trying to lessen his stress level before the start.
“I wanted to get some rest at
home, work out, practice on my game. And made sure I stayed patient, not get the anticipation built up too high,” he said.
Rahm, who tied for 23rd as the low amateur at last year’s US Open at Oakmont, has been a sensation since turning professional.
He won the Farmers Insurance Open in January and has recorded five more top-five finishes to zoom up the world rankings. Rahm played a full round of practice on Monday and was full of enthusiasm.
“I absolutely love the golf course,” he said. “It’s a very long golf course, big greens ... It’s like a links golf course on steroids.”
The Spaniard said he plans to dial down his practice to stay fresh.
“Played 18 holes today to get a feel of the golf course. I’ll play nine tomorrow and nine Wednesday, and after the nine holes try to get my touch around the greens which I think will be very important,” he said. – Reuters