Burly Jon Rahm takes aim at US PGA Championship glory

High hopes: Jon Rahm, 22, whose style has echoes of the great Lee Trevino, is tipped for victory this weekend

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John Huggan10 August 2017

The talk over the past few months has inevitably been littered with references to the “new Seve”. But that obvious premise is flawed. Inches taller and more stockily-built, Jon Rahm bears little physical resemblance to the late, great Ballesteros.

In truth, the 22-year-old Spaniard has more in common with another legend, Lee Trevino. Take a look at “Supermex” at the top of his backswing, especially the pronounced bow in the left wrist. Albeit much bigger — Rahm stands 6ft 3in and weighs 225lb — he is strikingly similar to the six-time major champion. As omens go, that takes some beating.

The numbers too, are startling. This week’s 99th edition of the US PGA Championship here is only Rahm’s 51st event as a professional. Of the previous 50, he finished third in the first, second in the fourth and won the 35th, the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. In two World Golf Championships earlier this year, he finished tied for third and second. And just over six weeks ago he added the Irish Open title to his growing resumé.

“From where I’m from, we’re usually strong, confident people,” says Rahm, who grew up in the coastal Basque town of Barrika (pop. 1,500). “It can get to a little bit of arrogance, which I don’t think is one of my traits.”

Already Rahm’s earnings on the PGA Tour total $5.5million (£4.2m). And he makes his US PGA debut ranked sixth in the world, a meteoric rise that has come as no surprise to five-time major champion Phil Mickelson. Even before the young Spaniard turned professional, Mickelson — whose younger brother, Tim, is Rahm’s agent — was telling him he was one of the 10 best golfers on the planet.

That is a view shared by many. Before the pair went head-to-head in the WGC Match Play last May, American Bill Haas was glowing in his praise of his young opponent.

“He’s hungry. He wants more. He wants a major. You can just see it in him,” Haas said of Rahm, who would win the match 3&2.

So Rahm has already ticked most of the boxes, with the exception of a victory at the highest level. But that may change this week. On a long Quail Hollow course softened by heavy rain, the burly Spaniard’s length off the tee and ability to hit high, towering approach shots to distant greens will surely gain their reward.