Family was an important factor for Jon Rahm to join LIV Golf in December. Money yes, but family also. While we know about his kids and lovely wife, Kelley, the Spaniard’s parents have remained relatively unknown. But without his parents, the 29-year-old wouldn’t be the 11-time PGA Tour winner and two-time major champion that he is. 

Rahm was born to Edorta, a businessman, and Angela, a midwife, in a little-known Basque town called Barrika. While both her parents encouraged their second child to play different sports—Rahm played soccer and Basque pelota and trained in Taekwondo—golf held a grip on his mind. Interestingly, it all dates back to a trip Rahm took with his mother.

A Ryder Cup with his parents changed the course of Rahm’s life

Interestingly, both his parents picked up golf after attending the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama. For Edorta, who was into extreme adventure sports, this was a rather odd choice. Speaking of their parents, the reigning Masters champion said, “He and my mum hiked up Mont Blanc and came down skiing.”

Nevertheless, his father now boasts a handicap of seven. Rahm shared that he inherited the confidence and boldness from his father. While his mother was the source of sound advice in matters of “emotions and feelings,” But Spaniard first learned a serious lesson thanks to her mother.

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Angela took him to the range while she was practicing at Martiartu. Rahm was munching on snacks while watching his 26-handicapper mom improve her game. The six-year-old Rahm got interested and tried his hand as well, picking up a club and two balls. That’s where it all started. The rest was taken care of by his father.

Rahm’s early work started with his father

By the age of 10–11, Jon Rahm showed enough signs for his father to put him under the tutelage of Jorge Losada and Eduardo Celles. But golf was still not on the professional map. Neither for the Spanish international nor for his father.

Edorta, who works in the gasoline industry, was into different types of sports. Rahm revealed that he was into free-rock climbing, mountain hiking, parasailing, etc. So, there was no push for golf from his father’s side. But he did take him to courses. “I would take him to Larrabea or Neguri to play, and I’d drop him off and go off to play with my friends.” Rahm was free to do whatever he wanted. But one day, Edorta’s friend suggested he take little Jon’s skills with the club more seriously.

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In fact, that friend also suggested that Rahm should take part in the Spanish National Children’s Championship. Edorta told Andalucia Golf Espana, “And I sent him with my parents and a nephew of mine who is his age; I put them in a car, and off they went, and that is when he started to commit to golf.” However, there never was a time when Rahm’s studies took a backseat.

Jon Rahm was pushed hard to do well in both studies and golf

This is what Rahm said on his journey from Spain to the United States: “My dad literally just dropped me off at the airport and said, ‘Goodbye, son. Let me know when you get there.’” When the Spaniard was at Arizona State University, Edorta pushed him to do well in both collegiate golf and communication studies. And Rahm did.

“I saw that not everyone who went to the United States succeeded. You take the list of British amateur champions, and there are a lot of them who we haven’t heard about since, or the Spanish national champions.” But Jon Rahm never had any problems juggling studies while participating in college tournaments.

His father revealed Rahm performed his best in the first term, which was the hardest because he couldn’t speak English at all. And also because he was the only European in the class. A practical man for all purposes. Edorta had his reasons. 

The Spaniard turned pro in 2016. Recently, Nick Dunlap became a pro after winning the American Express as an amateur. On the LPGA side, Rose Zhang turned pro before finishing college. But for Rahm, that was not an option. Edorta said, “At no stage was there the possibility of his turning pro before finishing his studies.” The Spanish International never had any problem with that. 

Rahm’s parents are immensely proud that their son ‘made it’ as a golfer. His pop is more proud of listening to his son’s emphasis on family. But Rahm’s mother has shied away from talking about his son. In an interview with Andalucia Golf Espana, Angela said, “I feel very strange when they ask me about my son, but I’m very proud of all that he has achieved and all that it has cost him, and the work that it entails.” Perhaps because it was she who laid the groundwork for her son’s success.

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