US Open champion Jon Rahm hails the ‘power of positive thinking’ after winning first major

‘I’m a big believer in karma’: US Open champion Jon Rahm hails the ‘power of positive thinking’ after winning his first major title, just 15 days after being forced to withdraw with a six-shot lead at the Memorial Tournament due to having Covid

Jon Rahm hailed the ‘power of positive thinking’ after winning his first major title with a stunning finish in the 121st US Open.

Rahm became the first Spanish player to lift the title and also returned to the top of the world rankings after making birdies on the final two holes at Torrey Pines to finish a shot ahead of Louis Oosthuizen.

The 26-year-old had tested positive for Covid-19 just 15 days earlier and was given the news moments after completing a third round of 64 to establish a six-shot lead in defence of his title at the Memorial Tournament.

Jon Rahm hailed the ‘power of positive thinking’ after winning his first major title on Sunday

Rahm became the first Spanish player to lift the US Open and returned to top of world rankings

Rahm became the first Spanish player to lift the US Open and returned to top of world rankings

He made birdies on final two holes at Torrey Pines to finish a shot ahead of Louis Oosthuizen

He made birdies on final two holes at Torrey Pines to finish a shot ahead of Louis Oosthuizen

‘This is the power of positive thinking,’ said Rahm, who was able to cut short a 10-day period of self-isolation last Saturday after twice testing negative.

‘I was never resentful for one second for what happened. And I don’t blame anybody. It’s been a difficult year and unfortunately Covid is a reality in this world and it’s affected a lot of people.

‘We have lost a lot of people back home. We have lost some friends. This one is to a friend of mine who was a journalist who had just started getting into golf and he was basically following me around the world, and he passed away a few months ago from Covid.’

Rahm won his first PGA Tour title at Torrey Pines, where he also proposed to his wife Kelley. She and their infant son Kepa were the first to greet Rahm after his dramatic birdie on the 18th.

‘I’m a big believer in karma, and after what happened a couple weeks ago I stayed really positive knowing good things were coming,’ Rahm said.

‘I didn’t know what it was going to be, but I knew we were coming to a special place, I knew I got my breakthrough win here and it’s a very special place for my family.

Rahm won his first PGA Tour title at Torrey Pines, where he also proposed to his wife Kelley (right - with son Kepa)

Rahm won his first PGA Tour title at Torrey Pines, where he also proposed to his wife Kelley (right – with son Kepa)

‘The fact that my parents were able to come, I got out of Covid protocol early, I just felt like the stars were aligning, and I knew my best golf was to come.

‘I have a hard time explaining what just happened because I can’t even believe I made the last two putts, and I’m the first Spaniard ever to win a US Open.

‘This was definitely for Seve (Ballesteros). Usually we think a lot about him at the Masters, but I know he wanted to win this one most of all.’

Oosthuizen had already finished second in each of the four majors before being runner-up in last month’s US PGA and was left to rue a pulled drive into a hazard on the 17th.

A heartbroken Rahm was forced to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament after being told he had tested positive for Covid-19 just 15 days before his US Open victory

A heartbroken Rahm was forced to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament after being told he had tested positive for Covid-19 just 15 days before his US Open victory

‘It’s frustrating. It’s disappointing,’ the former Open champion said. ‘I’m playing good golf, but winning a major championship is not just going to happen.

‘You need to go out and play good golf. I played good today, but I didn’t play good enough.

‘I definitely left a few putts or shots out there. I took the tee shot on at 17, and I knew it was a crucial hole for me to take it on and give myself a birdie opportunity.

‘I didn’t pull it off, but standing on that tee again, I’ll probably do the same thing, taking a driver and taking the shot on. I feel like I had my shots, I went for it, and that’s what you have to do to win majors. Sometimes it goes your way and other times it doesn’t.’

Oosthuizen was runner-up in US PGA and was left to rue a pulled drive into a hazard on the 17th

Oosthuizen was runner-up in US PGA and was left to rue a pulled drive into a hazard on the 17th

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