Jon Rahm hit the big time in golf in 2017, with the Spaniard having risen to No 4 in the world. Karim Sahib / AFP
Jon Rahm hit the big time in golf in 2017, with the Spaniard having risen to No 4 in the world. Karim Sahib / AFP
Jon Rahm hit the big time in golf in 2017, with the Spaniard having risen to No 4 in the world. Karim Sahib / AFP
Jon Rahm hit the big time in golf in 2017, with the Spaniard having risen to No 4 in the world. Karim Sahib / AFP

Jon Rahm proud to belong on golf's major tours after clinching DP World Tour Championship in Dubai


John McAuley
  • English
  • Arabic

Everybody knows Jon Rahm is good. He most probably does, too. But still, even the world’s best golfers need a little positive reinforcement sometimes.

"I think more than proving to anybody else, it's proving to myself that I belong here," Rahm said on Sunday, after he sealed a one-shot victory at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. "I think that was more important."

This year, his full rookie season as a professional, Rahm has emerged as one of the most significant players in golf. Having turned 23 only last week, he clinched his third professional victory and his second on the European Tour.

Rahm posted a flawless five-under-par 65 to reach 19-under and win by a single stroke from Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

Justin Rose, the overnight leader and the favourite going into the day in both the tournament and the Race to Dubai, led then bogeyed three of five holes from the 12th to finish tied-fourth. Consequently, he missed out on two titles.

As a result, Rahm nabbed one. At the 14th hole on a frantic final day at the Earth course, he holed for birdie to join clubhouse leader Lowry, Rose and playing partner Dean Burmester in a four-way tie at the summit. Two holes later, Rahm leapt from the pack with what proved a decisive birdie.

“After the lucky bounce on 16, I took advantage of it,” he said. “You can rarely have a straight putt from ten feet for birdie on this golf course, but somehow I had it today on 16.”

As Rose was wilting in the desert, Rahm bloomed, first with a “great up-and-down” on the par-3 17th, and then a par on 18. Out in the penultimate group in the European Tour’s season finale, he had to then wait as Dylan Frittelli, needing eagle to tie, found the water off the tee. Another Rolex Series victory secured, Rahm had made another monumental splash.

"There's sometimes when you believe things and you want things to happen, but when you actually achieve them, it's something unbelievable," he said. "Winning the DP World Tour Championship is one of them.

"It changes the whole perspective. It's the last tournament of the year. There's no more. There's no next week. There's 2018. To get it done the last week, I don't know if it shows anybody else or not, but it does prove to myself that I belong to be here.

"I belong to be on the European Tour and I belong to be on the PGA Tour. It's a great week for me mentally in that sense.”

His name belongs on the trophy alongside some pretty heavy hitters.

“I'm extremely honoured and humbled to join my name to the winners of this event: Lee Westwood, Robert Karlsson, Alvaro Quiros, Henrik Stenson, Rory [McIlroy], Matthew [Fitzpatrick],” Rahm said. “I mean, they are all great players. Some of them European Tour legends.

"It's just great to just join that and get my chance to put my name on that great trophy. It's a great feeling.”

After feeling slightly nervous on the first tee - Rahm had not been in contention since the Dell Technologies Championship in Boston in September - he soon found his groove. As the final few throes of the tournament unravelled, crucially he did not.

“I was never too stressed,” Rahm said. “I never got ahead of myself. Kept my composure and kept playing and hoped to have a birdie opportunity, which I did on 14. And I knew that was going to take care of the rest.”

Rahm will now take care to rest for the remainder of 2017, but as a “really ambitious person”, the new world No 4 will then seek to work out how to make 2018 even better.

“I know it's going to be hard to top my first year because it's a really, really good first year,” he said. “In fact, it's a really good year in general, period. Hopefully I can keep playing like this."

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ENGLAND WORLD CUP SQUAD

Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

FIRST TEST SCORES

England 458
South Africa 361 & 119 (36.4 overs)

England won by 211 runs and lead series 1-0

Player of the match: Moeen Ali (England)

 

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

The biog

Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages

Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”  

Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”

Favourite film:  “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”

Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”

WEST ASIA RUGBY 2017/18 SEASON ROLL OF HONOUR

Western Clubs Champions League
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Bahrain

Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons

West Asia Premiership
Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Premiership Cup
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Dubai Exiles

UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

The biog

Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.

Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.

Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.

Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Scoreline:

Cardiff City 0

Liverpool 2

Wijnaldum 57', Milner 81' (pen)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
South Africa's T20 squad

Duminy (c), Behardien, Dala, De Villiers, Hendricks, Jonker, Klaasen (wkt), Miller, Morris, Paterson, Phangiso, Phehlukwayo, Shamsi, Smuts.

At a glance

Fixtures All matches start at 9.30am, at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free

Thursday UAE v Ireland; Saturday UAE v Ireland; Jan 21 UAE v Scotland; Jan 23 UAE v Scotland

UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (c), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Dhadak

Director: Shashank Khaitan

Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana

Stars: 3

Sun jukebox

Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)

This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.

Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)

The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.

Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)

Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.

Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)

Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.

Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)

An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.

Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)

Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg

Bayern Munich 1
Kimmich (27')

Real Madrid 2
Marcelo (43'), Asensio (56')

England World Cup squad

Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood