Jon Rahm would love to recreate Seve Ballesteros' famous fist-pumping celebration on the 18th green at St Andrews.
The Spanish golfer picked out his favourite moment in Open Championship history on Tuesday and singled out his countryman. Seve holed a winning putt on the 18th green in 1984 and drummed out his joy to the Old Course gallery in a legendary moment.
Former world No. 1 Rahm said: “I don't want to go with the obvious, but '84 was very special for Spanish people. That image of Seve celebrating, it's an iconic image not only for us but for the world of U.S. Open.
“This is truly the pinnacle of golf. I don't think it gets any better than winning at St Andrews. No offense to any other tournament in the world. It's the oldest championship on the oldest course and where it all started. Especially when you get into the setup we have this week, nice and firm and rolling and tricked out as it can be."
The 1984 win at St. Andrews was the second of Seve's three Open titles, claiming the Claret Jug at Royal Lytham and St Annes in both 1979 and 1988. However, the Old Course inevitably gives any championship a greater sense of prestige.
Rahm, 27, tied for third place last year and added: “You can't really call yourself a great player unless you win The Open at St Andrews, which is a very selective group to say. And it can almost put your career to another level just because of how great a venue it is.”
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Tiger Woods pushed a similar sentiment earlier this week and quoted Jack Nicklaus when he said: "There is nothing like being champion at the Home of Golf." Woods—who is at the opposite end of his peak compared to Rahm and has admitted he could be competing in his last Open —was only 24 when he completed the career Grand Slam at St. Andrews in 2000.
Rahm still has just the one major to his credit after winning last year's U.S. Open and remains a long way off completing the collection. However, the former Arizona State star has been a frequent contender in golf's biggest contests in recent years and finished eighth or higher in all four majors last year.
Thirty-eight years on from his St Andrews showcase, Ballesteros remains the only player from mainland Europe to have won The Open on more than one occasion. Biscay-born Rahm has time on his hands as he looks to join that exclusive club, using idol Ballesteros as a blueprint for success.
