It is very rarely journalists are singled out for praise and certainly not when a sports star wins a championship as big as a U.S. Open.
Though that’s exactly what happened with Jon Rahm captured the 121st U.S. Open title Sunday at Torrey Pines in proudly singling out the late Jose Manuel Cortizas.
Rahm became the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Open and with victory coming just 15 days after the bitter disappointment of having to withdraw from The Memorial.
Jon Rahm dedicating his US Open victory to the late José Manuel Cortizas.
And in speaking of those who have supported him including his own father, who was present on Father’s Day at Torrey Pines, along with the support of European golfing greats Padraig Harrington and Nick Faldo (See – http://www.golfbytourmiss.com/2021/06/rahm-singles-out-harrington-and-faldo-for-special-praise/ Rahm also singled out Cortizas and announcing he was dedicating his victory to his hometown journalist and good friend who sadly passed away earlier this year after contracting the COVID-19 virus and aged only 58.
“Jose Manuel did basketball in the city I’m from, in Bilbao [Spain], for a newspaper. He followed basketball,” Rahm said.
“The owner of the newspaper said, ‘Hey, start following this golfer who’s doing pretty good things.’ Without ever hesitating, he jumped on a plane and started following me around the world.”
The late José Manuel Cortiza with frends and AGW members David Duran (Back right) and Alejandro Rodriguez (Front right) and with Jon Rahm’s manager Jeff Koski (Back left)
Rahm, who thanked Cortizas in his victory speech, went on to explain that Cortizas, who worked for the El Correo newspaper, had never played golf before he started covering him in 2016.
“He has, I believe, a 20-year-old daughter that now has no dad, and it happened extremely quick. It’s just sad. He was a great friend, a great family friend,” said Rahm.
“This right here (U.S. Open trophy) is definitely for him because he would have loved more than anybody else to be here covering this.”
