Jon Rahm wasn’t even two years old yet when the Ryder Cup was held at Valderrama. Evidently, the young golfer from Barrika didn’t have the slightest clue that that very week in October of 1997 would shape his career as a golfer.
That Ryder Cup in Sotogrande, with Seve Ballesteros as captain, was the first contact his parents had, Ángela and Edorta, with the world of golf. Sparks were flying. It was love at first sight. Rahm’s parents got immediately hooked on golf, they learned to play and they got the passion for golf running through their children’s veins.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that if weren’t for that Ryder Cup, I wouldn’t be a golfer now. That’s where it all started. It was thanks to my parents’ friends who insisted on going to Valderrama to see the tournament and convinced them to join. The beginning of it all”, Rahm himself attests to.
Coincidentally, it will also be at Valderrama this week, starting Thursday, where the Basque golfer will make his debut as a professional in a tournament in Spain. He’ll compete in the Andalucía Valderrama Masters, and he couldn’t be more excited. “I’ve been really anxious to play in Spain. I want to compete in front of the audience that has supported me so much in these past months. There’s no better course to play in my first tournament in Spain than Valderrama. I hope to have a good tournament and to give the audience something to enjoy”, Jon assures.
Keep in mind that apart from just the emotional factor, Rahm is also playing for the Race to Dubai victory as well throughout these days. He needs a win this week, and a solid performance in the WGC HSBC Champions in Shanghai next week, in order to have a shot at passing Tommy Fleetwood in the grand finale in Dubai, which will be held in November. Rahm will play in the first two rounds of the tournament with Martin Kaymer and Padraig Harrington. Big-name and high-caliber play Ryder Cup. Rahm will play on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.