AUGUSTA MASTERS
Jon Rahm: "Seve was my hero"
The 22 Basque golfer is in confident mood ahead of the tournament: "If I felt I couldn't win, then I wouldn't compete".
Jon Rahm will tee off for the first time tomorrow morning as the 22 year old makes his Augusta Masters debut. “It really is a dream come true" tweeted the Barrika (Vizcaya) born golfer. Even their bookies are expecting great things from Rahm in Georgia with the golfer currently lying between fourth and seventh favourite to wear the famous green jacket come Sunday.
Augusta Debutante
Paired up with Tanihara and Irish man Rory McIlroy, Rahm has endeared the US media with the frankness of opinion. “If I didn't think I could win, then I wouldn't be here". One has to go back to 1979 for the last debutante to wear the green jacket when American Fuzzy Zoeller won the Masters.
Ballesteros idol
Just one year later, in 1980, Seve Ballesteros claimed the title in Georgia being the first Spaniard to ever win the coveted Masters (he was also victorious in 1983). The Santander born "Seve" was an iconic figure for Jon whist growing up: “He's my hero and I would love to emulate his achievements. Chema Olazábal was the next Spaniard in line to claim an Augusta triumph with two wins in 1994 and 1999. Since then no Spanish golfer has been able to claim the Masters, a record the Basque hopefully will aim to address when he tees off tomorrow at the Augusta National Golf Club.