“I used to be dedicated to that objective from a really younger age, once I was 13 or 14 years previous. I began working for that and the whole lot I’ve carried out in golf has been to be primary in the world, to develop into the greatest participant I will be ”. And he had so as to add: “and to win ‘majors’”. This evaluation he did Jon rahm in July 2020 he was licensed by his first trainer, Eduardo Celles, who obtained him at his college in Bilbao when Jon’s mom, Angela, took him to group lessons: “Jon hit the ball very laborious, he was very enthusiastic about golf. At 14 he advised me, on the technique to college: ‘Eduardo, I’m going to be #1 in the world.’
It was 2008 and the mirror of Rahm, his idol, was Spanish: Severiano Ballesteros. “I play golf for Seve and dream of emulating him and reaching all that he has completed in golf. My admiration for him can be everlasting. I need to thank my dad and mom for instructing me the approach and the self-discipline to get to the place I’ve arrived, ”mentioned Rahm in his beginnings on this sport. They have been additionally an instance Txema Olazábal Y Sergio garcia. “The reality is that each hit from Seve confirmed me the technique to go. Olazábal has proven me that perseverance has a prize and from Sergio I’ve discovered to not throw in the towel when issues have been left in the air by a single blow, as a result of in the finish, working he may additionally costume in the inexperienced jacket of the Masters ”, he mentioned.
Rahm, underneath the cloak of the RFEG, he went to dwell in Madrid, the place he entered the Blume Nationwide College to good your sport. After which he determined to go to the United States, to check on a scholarship at the Arizona State College. When he arrived on this nation, Rahm didn’t converse English. And that induced him some rejection. He was about to return. However it was nonetheless there. The data of the language, a supervisor in Arizona that made him develop much more as a golfer, and his girlfriend and now spouse Kelley Cahill, a graduate in biology, who studied at the similar college and was additionally an athlete (tennis and javelin), did the relaxation.
His college stage was sensible. For 50 weeks he was world primary novice, twice winner of the Ben Hogan Award (2015 and 2016) and obtained 11 victories. In 2016 he performed his first two Grand Slams: he was the greatest fan of the US Open (23rd) and likewise made the minimize at the British.
In 2017 got here his first skilled title, in 2018 he performed the Ryder, in 2019 he received the European Order of Advantage (solely Seve had received it earlier than in three totally different a long time) in 2020 he was world No. 1 and in 2021 he has received his first ‘large’ ‘. “Successes in private life for me will all the time be price far more than skilled successes. And I believe I’ve been extra profitable personally than in golf. What Kelley has made me enhance as an individual has absolutely helped me to play higher, ”says Jon about his spouse and mom of his son Kepa.
Jon, together with his spouse and son and his dad and mom, Edorta and Angela
Homemaker and staunch Athletic fan
Kelley and Jon met dancing and since then have remained collectively personally and professionally. “As an elite athlete, she understands the in all probability egocentric selections we’ve got to make,” explains Rahm. Some selections, equivalent to to relaxation for 5 weeks earlier than being topped No. 1 on the European circuit. “We spend the relaxation weeks at house. With all the touring, that point at house with Kelley could be very a lot appreciated. ” Jon defines himself as very homey and doubtless the most American of Spanish golfers.
Though Rahm has put down roots in Arizona, the place he has lived for nearly 9 years, he has by no means misplaced his connection to Spain. “It’s all the time a great feeling to play for greater than your self. Though I don’t give it some thought throughout tournaments, I see it in the repercussion of what I do ”, he affirms about his reputation in his native Barrika and in the relaxation of the nation. Rahm, winner of the Spanish Open for 2 years in a row (2018-2019), takes benefit of any event to advertise golf amongst younger individuals and Spanish kids, and continues to be a fan of Athletic, a ardour he shares together with his spouse.
From his visits to Spain, Kelley treasures the reminiscence of the paper cones stuffed with Iberian ham, the Txakolí wine, the video games at San Mamés and the New Years Eve at Jon’s grandmother’s home, consuming the grapes. Kelley just isn’t the just one on her workforce (there’s her caddy, her supervisor Jeff Kosky, Celles, the psychologist Joseba del Carmen…): “Everybody has a component in success. Who I spend the most time with is Adam (Hayes), my caddy, however the whole lot that occurs exterior helps me to do higher on the subject. Amongst the complete workforce, Adam is a pair of steps above. With out him I’d not have received what I’ve. It has been an awesome assist”.
Go to complete these final two pearls: “I put extra strain than anybody can put me. I’ve all the time been like this. I don’t take as strain the want of the Spanish public to win or the expectations. It will be worse if no person gave a penny for me, however when you have the help of a complete nation it doesn’t crush, it lifts you up.
“I wish to be like Rafael Nadal, who has that rage, is a good competitor and has it underneath management. Has nice psychological energy. That’s the place I attempt to stroll. It’s a steady job. That want to win, that anger, you must have them, and so they have helped me quite a bit ”.
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