Winner of the 2021 U.S. Open and the 2023 Masters, former world No. 1, and a European mainstay on the Ryder Cup team, Jon Rahm has turned a short backswing and a short game inspired by Seve Ballesteros into the tools of a champion.
Jon Rahm He is the great heir to Seve Ballesteros: two major championships—the 2021 U.S. Open and the 2023 Masters—more than 50 weeks as the world No. 1, and four Ryder Cups with Europe. Here is his biography, his list of achievements, the secrets of his game, and golf lessons from the site to help you improve in the same areas.
Who is Jon Rahm?
Jon Rahm is a Spanish golfer born on November 10, 1994, in Barrika, in the Basque Country. His family was introduced to golf through the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama, which Europe won under the captaincy of Seve Ballesteros. He has often said that without that moment, he probably would not have become a professional golfer. At age 13, he devoted himself to golf under the guidance of Spanish coach Eduardo Celles, who steered him toward a fade rather than a hook.
Recruited by Arizona State University, he became the first player to win the Ben Hogan Award—which honors the top college golfer in the United States—twice, and held the No. 1 spot in the world amateur rankings for 60 weeks. He turned pro in 2016 and, as early as 2017, won on the PGA Tour (Farmers Insurance Open) and on the European Tour (Irish Open).
In July 2020, after his victory at the Memorial, he became the world No. 1 at age 25, the second Spaniard to do so after Seve. In 2019, he also became the second Spaniard after Seve to win the Race to Dubai, the European Tour’s points standings. He joined LIV Golf in late 2023: as captain of Team Legion XIII, he won the individual standings for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons.
Jon Rahm's Career Highlights
His two major titles bear Seve’s mark. He dedicated the 2021 U.S. Open to the late champion, then won the 2023 Masters on April 9—Seve’s birthday and 40 years after his second green jacket. He became the fourth Spaniard to win at Augusta, following Seve, José María Olazábal, and Sergio García.
| Tournament or Record | Result |
|---|---|
| Major Tournaments | 2: 2021 U.S. Open (Torrey Pines), the first Spaniard to win the tournament; 2023 Masters, 4 strokes ahead of Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson |
| PGA Tour Victories | 11, including the 2020 Memorial, the 2020 BMW Championship, and the 2023 Genesis Invitational |
| Victories on the European circuit (DP World Tour) | 10, including 3 Spanish Opens (2018, 2019, 2022), 2 Irish Opens, and 3 DP World Tour Championships |
| Race to Dubai | 2019 Champion |
| LIV Golf | 4 victories (United Kingdom and Chicago 2024, Hong Kong and Mexico City 2026); winner of the individual standings in 2024, 2025, and 2026 |
| No. 1 in the world | More than 50 weeks, for the first time in July 2020 |
| Ryder Cup | 4 appearances (2018, 2021, 2023, 2025), 3 victories with the European team |
| Awards | PGA of America Player of the Year and Vardon Trophy winner in 2021 |
His first Ryder Cup took place in France, at Le Golf National, in 2018: there, he defeated Tiger Woods in singles. In 2026, he tied for second place at the PGA Championship.
Jon Rahm's Swing: Key Points
Jon Rahm has worked with Eduardo Celles, the architect of his swing, since he was 13, and with Dave Phillips of the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI). His short backswing is one of the most recognisable on tour.
- Grip and setup: At 6 ft 2 in, he stands very close to the ball with his hands near his knees and a very weak lead-hand grip that helps him hit his fade. (National Club Golfer, 2024)
- Why such a short backswing: He explains it himself: born with a club foot, his right ankle lacks the mobility for a full swing. The short swing gives him power and consistency. (GOLF.com, 2021)
- Backswing and wrists: A very fast takeaway (lead arm parallel in 0.53 seconds, against 0.62 on average on tour) and a strongly bowed lead wrist at the top, his 'superpower' according to Dave Phillips. (GOLF.com, 2022)
- Downswing and impact: A quick tempo and powerful leg drive; he keeps his width and a lot of wrist lag, hands well ahead of the ball at impact, legs straightening and pushing into the ground. (National Club Golfer, 2024)
- Ball flight and finish: A power fade; he holds his wrist angle after impact and finishes balanced, sometimes with a recoil because he accelerates so hard. (National Club Golfer, 2024)
- Speed: 120.8 mph average clubhead speed and 310.6 yards average driving distance over the 2022-23 PGA Tour season. (Worldwide Golf, 2023)
What Amateurs Can Copy from Jon Rahm's Swing
- His drill: with a 6-iron, swing back until your hands feel at hip height, then hit at full speed to train a lower-body change of direction. See our downswing and transition lessons.
- Check your setup on a photo: hips over ankles. And don't force a longer swing if your mobility is limited. See our setup and posture lessons.
- Don't copy his short backswing literally (for amateurs it often produces a weak slice): borrow the width and the hands ahead of the ball at impact instead. See our impact position lessons.
Compare with other pros' swings.
Jon Rahm's Game
A short backswing and a powerful fade
Jon Rahm’s swing is instantly recognizable: a short, compact backswing, a “bowed” left wrist at the top of the swing, and a relatively loose left-hand grip. Analysts at Golf.com and National Club Golfer see this as the key to his powerful fade. He sums up his philosophy in three words: “swing your swing”—play with the swing that’s naturally yours rather than copying someone else’s. He also explained that playing a fade allows him to swing more freely. This is a reassuring message for anyone who doesn’t have the full range of motion of textbook models. To learn more: Draw or Fade and Backswing.
A long and consistent driver
With his compact swing, Jon Rahm remains one of the longest hitters in the world: an average drive distance of 311 yards during the 2026 LIV Golf season. His greatest strength is his consistency: in a test filmed by Callaway, his ten consecutive drives varied by only about 500 revolutions per minute in spin, whereas the average amateur can exceed 2,500. Check out our lessons on Driving and Speed, Power, and Distance.
A short game inspired by Seve
Around the greens, Jon Rahm embraces Seve’s legacy: creativity, imaginative shot-making, and reading the lie before deciding on a technique. He says he learned the short game as a child by inventing shots with his friends, long before he started working on his technique. To practice with our lessons from wedge play, pitching, and chipping and’Pitch Shots.
Lessons on Best Golf Tips
Video lessons from Jon Rahm, in summary form, will be available soon on this page. In the meantime, here are the sections of the site that correspond to the strengths of his game:
- The Big Game: Driving, Draw or Fade, Swing and Swing Plane.
- The Short Game: wedge play, pitching, and chipping, Pitch Shots, uneven lies.
- The Mind: Psychology and Mental Game, Course Management.
See also the fact sheets on Seve Ballesteros, his role model, from Rory McIlroy, his Ryder Cup teammate, and Bryson DeChambeau, his rival on the LIV Golf tour.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jon Rahm: Career Highlights, Swing, Short Game, and Golf Lessons on Video
How old is Jon Rahm?
Jon Rahm was born on November 10, 1994, in Barrika, in the Basque Country (Spain): he is 31 years old and will turn 32 on November 10, 2026.
How many majors has Jon Rahm won?
Two: the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, where he became the first Spaniard to win, and the 2023 Masters, which he won by four strokes over Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson.
What is the connection between Jon Rahm and Seve Ballesteros?
His family took up golf after the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama, where Seve was the captain. Jon Rahm dedicated the 2021 U.S. Open to Seve and won the 2023 Masters on Seve’s birthday, 40 years after Seve’s second green jacket. He is the second Spaniard to reach No. 1 in the world and win the Race to Dubai after Seve.
How many Ryder Cups has Jon Rahm played in?
Four, including the European team: 2018 at Le Golf National (victory, including a singles win over Tiger Woods), 2021 and 2023 in Rome (victory), and 2025 at Bethpage Black (victory).
Is Jon Rahm playing on the LIV Golf Tour?
He joined LIV Golf in late 2023 and competed in the 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons as captain of Team Legion XIII. He won the individual standings for all three seasons and claimed four tournament victories.
Why does Jon Rahm have such a short backswing?
It’s his natural, compact swing, which he has always maintained. He sums up his philosophy as “swing your swing”: playing with your own motion rather than copying a model. This swing produces a powerful and very consistent fade for him.
How many weeks was Jon Rahm ranked No. 1 in the world?
More than 50 weeks in total (52, according to Wikipedia). He reached No. 1 for the first time in July 2020, after winning the Memorial at age 25.
