New U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm singled out two stalwarts of European golf in Padraig Harrington and Nick Faldo for special praise following his stunning success at Torrey Pines.
The 26-year-old celebrated a 20th career major, also becoming the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Open.
It also is not lost that Rahm’s victory along the cliff top South Course was also the scene four years ago of a maiden pro career and also a first PGA Tour triumph.
Rahm achieved success 15 days after being harshly robbed of victory when a positive COVID-19 virus test forced him out of the Memorial tournament at the close of day three when leading by a commanding six shots.
Rahm had been self-isolating right up until the start of the U.S. Open and this despite admitting he was not suffering any COVID-19 related symptoms during the self-isolating period.
Jon Rahm becomes the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Open
His U.S. Open victory rubber stamped, in some ways, what Rahm had been denied at ‘Jack’s Event’.
And in thanking many at the Torrey Pines presentation ceremony Rahm singled out Harrington and Faldo with each key in providing him with a positive outlook despite his public disappointment for all the world to see at Muirfield Village.
Rahm revealed the incident back in 2000 when Harrington was disqualified ahead of round four of the Benson & Hedges International Open for not signing his opening round scorecard.
The incident came to light after Kiwi Michael Campbell, playing in the opening two rounds alongside Harrington, had shot a course record on day one and with The Belfry asking if the club could retain Campbell’s scorecard.
In checking all three scorecards, it was noticed by the European Tour that Harrington had not signed for his own 71 and, in fact, Campbell had signed the Irishman’s card twice.
“Padraig told me a story in which he was leading by five after 54 holes, signed the wrong scorecard, and got disqualified,” Rahm said.
“He said he learned a lot more than he would ever learn from the win.
“Nick texted and told me a story of how he was winning a tournament, leading by six with six holes to go and got disqualified, as well, and how he learned from that and got a win the week after.”
The Faldo incident occurred at the 1994 Alfred Dunhill Masters in Bali when Faldo was leading by six shots with six holes to play. Though it came to light Faldo had removed a stone from a bunker on day two in signing for a 63 and a then new course record.
Rahm highlighted such stories from two of the game’s greats that kept him positive after the Memorial shock.
“I had in mind Padraig and Nick when I was out there on the course a couple times knowing that they won shortly after adversity, and I knew today was my day,” said Rahm, who finished on six-under 278 for a one-shot win over South African Louis Oosthuizen.
“I believe from the biggest setbacks we can get some of the biggest breakthroughs, and that’s why I stay so positive.
“I kept telling (wife) Kelley, something good is going to come. I don’t know what, but something good is going to come, and I felt it today out there on the golf course.”
Rahm sank a 10-foot birdie at the first hole, and followed it up with a virtual tap-in birdie at the next to cut a three-shot overnight deficit to one stroke.
“I could just tell going down the fairway after that first tee shot, that second shot, and that birdie, I knew there was something special in the air,” he said.
“I could just feel it … I just knew that I could do it and believed it.”
