How Rahm got his positive feeling
FALDO AND HARRINGTON LIFTED JON
JON RAHM might have been sent in to isolation this month but the new US Open champion revealed he got by with a little help from his friends.
The Spaniard claimed his first Major trophy in sensational style at Torrey Pines on Sunday.
Victory in California came two weeks after he was forced to withdraw from a PGA Tour event when six shots clear – and with one hand on the Memorial Tournament title – after testing positive for Covid.
When he emerged from quarantine he was inspired by advice from Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington, right, and six-times Major winner Sir Nick Faldo.
Rahm was left believing better times were around the corner and he produced a fairy-tale closing 67 in San Diego, with back-to-back birdies securing the win.
He said: “The first person who called me when
I was in the isolation trailer was Padraig Harrington.
“He told me a story in which he was leading by five after 54 holes, signed the wrong card and got disqualified.
“He said he learned a lot more than he would ever learn from the win.
“And Sir Nick Faldo texted me and told me a story of how he was winning a tournament.
“He was leading by six with six holes to go and got disqualified as well – I think it was the Million Dollar Shootout in South Africa.
“I believed from big setbacks we get the breakthroughs – and that’s why I stay so positive.
“That’s why I kept telling my wife Kelley, when she was devastated about what happened, something good is going to come.
“I had in mind Padraig and Nick when I was out there on the golf course a couple of times knowing that they won shortly after and I knew it was my day. “I knew there was something special in the air. That’s why I played as aggressive as I did.”
Rahm, 26, was rock solid while his rivals fell to pieces.
Louis Oosthuizen blew up late to finish second after Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka all threatened before fading.
The win was sealed at a special place for Rahm – the venue of his first PGA Tour win in 2017 and where he got engaged.
His family were all there to see his Major glory, including baby Kepa.
Rahm said: “I love this place. On my first Father’s Day with my dad [Edorta] here, to get this one done the way I did, on top of that you add the fact we got engaged here as well and I have a very happy life.
“It almost feels like it’s a movie that’s about to end and I’m going to wake up soon.”
Rahm, who became Spain’s first US Open champion, added: “This was definitely for Seve [Ballesteros, the legendary Spanish golfer who died in 2011]. He tried a lot and wanted to win this most of all.”
South African Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open winner who finished one stroke behind Rahm, tweeted: “I will keep knocking on that Major door. Gave it my best.”
I had in mind Padraig and Nick when I was out there and I knew it was my day