There are only a handful of Spanish players whose name comes to mind when one thinks about golf. Jon Rahm is one of them. A marquee player on the LIV Tour, Rahm is someone who could not be ignored. Might be why he was one of those few who were able to make it in the 2025 Ryder Cup Team for Europe despite LIV’s sour relations. Born with a defect and constant anger outbursts on the course, he is an intriguing player to look for. But as interesting as his play is on the course, so is his identity. Let us have a look at that.

Basque roots and family background

Jon Rahm Rodriguez comes from Barrika, a small coastal town in northern Spain’s Basque Country. Being Basque plays a central role in his identity as the community is one of Europe’s oldest surviving. The people have held onto their culture and language for thousands of years despite threats of foreign powers intruding within. To this day, their homeland, Euskal Herria, straddles northern Spain and southwestern France without recognition as an independent nation.

Rahm’s father, Edorta Rahm, and his mother, Angela Rodriguez, raised him within this environment of strong identity and pride. But his identity has other layers too. His family heritage includes Swiss and Spanish ties. Interestingly, his name ‘Jon’ comes from the Basque tradition, and his first surname ‘Rahm’ from Switzerland. But for Rahm, it is a pride to be a Basque.

So, Rahm’s journey definitely benefited from structured support and mentorship from an early age. Notably, after his family recognized his talent, they sought out local coaches in Barrika and later prominent coaches in Spain and the US. His collegiate coach at Arizona State University, Tim Mickelson (Phil Mickelson’s brother), was instrumental in refining Rahm’s mental and tactical approach to the game, guiding him through both personal and competitive challenges during his transition to the US collegiate system.

Representing Spain on the global stage

So, Rahm’s journey definitely benefited from structured support and mentorship from an early age. Notably, after his family recognized his talent, they sought out local coaches in Barrika and later prominent coaches in Spain and the US. His collegiate coach at Arizona State University, Tim Mickelson (Phil Mickelson’s brother), was instrumental in refining Rahm’s mental and tactical approach to the game, guiding him through both personal and competitive challenges during his transition to the US collegiate system.

While he has Basque roots, Jon Rahm holds Spanish nationality and has represented Spain throughout his career. It was his father who introduced him to golf, watching Seve Ballesteros clinching a victory at the 1997 Ryder Cup in Valderrama. That spark set Rahm on a path that eventually took him across the Atlantic to Arizona State University, where he started off the path to being the most decorated amateur golfer in history. He was the first person to win the Ben Hogan Award twice, which is given to the top collegiate golfer.

Since then, he has constantly represented Spain on the international stage. After winning the Memorial Tournament in 2020, Rahm thanked his parents in the Basque language: “Aita, Ama, eskerrik asko, eskerrik asko guztiagatik, benetan, eskerrik asko” (Father, Mother, thank you very much, thank you very much for everything, really, thank you very much). He has won two majors, one at the 2021 US Open and the 2023 Masters, and has been an undeniable name of the European roster for the Ryder Cup.

Rahm’s fiery personality and passion on the course set him apart from many of his peers. Known for his emotional outbursts—sometimes frustration, sometimes jubilation—his candor has made him popular among fans and generated media discussion. He has also spoken about working with sports psychologists to channel his emotions more productively, aiming to strike a balance between his natural intensity and competitive composure.

How does Jon Rahm’s heritage influence his life and career?

The Basques are known for their persistence in holding onto language, tradition, and identity, despite centuries of pressure to assimilate. Rahm has shown the same persistence in his golf and life in general. Born club-footed, it might not have been possible for him to become a player of as successful as he is today. But he fought through, moulded his game around his disability, and turned it into an ability.

The same resilience seeped through him during his teenage years, when he gave up everything to focus on his ambition. “By the time I was 15, I’d pretty much dropped all my other sports and focused purely on golf,” he once told Golf News. Moving to the United States as a teenager might not have been easy for a regular person. But Rahm persevered. He used Eminem’s raps to learn English. Today, his fluency matches that of the natives.

For young golfers in Spain, especially in the Basque region, Rahm’s story is both a sporting inspiration and a cultural one. Even today, he often participates in local events and supports initiatives that promote golf among youth in his hometown. As Rahm takes Europe to new heights — creating history by winning the 2025 Ryder Cup on rival’s turf — he sets an example of success that can come without abandoning your roots.