SOTOGRANDE, Spain — The roars have a distinct sound at Real Club Valderrama, as the club has hosted the 1997 Ryder Cup, two World Golf Championships, countless DP World Tour events and now three editions of LIV Golf Andalucia.
There’s a soccer-like sound in the cheers and an almost theatrical fan overreaction to good shots on the iconic course nestled in the Andalucia mountains in southern Spain.
Two-time major champion Jon Rahm, one of country’s most famous golf sons, felt goosebumps all week but none bigger than when he tied Talor Gooch for the lead with a birdie at the par-5 17th Sunday in the final round.
“It’s uplifting, 100 percent, having the crowd be in my favor,” Rahm said.
Ultimately, the Basque country native fell short of Gooch, who shot 69 to finish at eight-under-par total and win by one. It was Gooch’s second LIV win at Valderrama (2023) and fourth league victory overall. Rahm only managed an even-par 71 for second place while Abraham Ancer was third at five under.
Rahm was emotionally charged well into his press conference afterward.
“The three Spanish Opens [I’ve won], when it comes to strength of field, were nowhere near some of the tournaments I’ve been able to [win], but because of what it means to me and what it entails to the week in Spain and all the commitments, it can almost be up there with the hardest,” the 2021 U.S. Open and 2023 Masters winner said.
All the proof one needs for what contending at Valderrama means to Rahm can be found in his answer when asked where the adrenaline levels are compared with big moments in his career. After all, Rahm’s golfing origin is rooted deeply in Valderrama. His father, Edorta, attended the ’97 Ryder Cup at Valderrama having never played golf before. He soon introduced a 2-year-old Jon to the sport.
“There’s a lot of history here; in the pre-round [LIV] video that they had [celebrity Spanish chef] José Andreas speaking,” Rahm said. “[Andreas said] ‘Jon’s Legion and Sergio’s Fireballs’ are walking in Seve’s [Ballesteros] shadow.’ Every time I heard it, I got goosebumps just because of what [Ballesteros] meant to golf in Spain, what he meant to me and what that 1997 Ryder Cup meant, what this golf course meant. It’s the only reason why my dad ever picked up a golf club. Every time I tee it up here it means a lot.”
Which makes his loss all the more crushing, especially combined with a runner-up at the DP World Tour’s Andalucia Masters in 2019.
On Sunday, needing a birdie to force Gooch into a playoff, Rahm drove it left into the trees on No. 18. He punched out of the trees and a lackluster wedge left him 20 feet for par. When he drained it, those Andalucia roars erupted. Maybe the galleries thought it was for birdie, or perhaps they were dialed into LIV Golf and knew the solo second kept Rahm’s hopes alive of winning the season-long individual LIV title.
“I feel very fortunate to have been able to win in Spain but I haven’t been able to do it individually here in Valderrama,” he said. “I think I’ve played it five times now, two missed cuts [on the DP World Tour], two second places [one at the European circuit’s Andalucia Masters]. I’ve definitely had my chances.
“It’s a hard enough golf course as it is to add that on to it, and even though I played extremely well, almost for the crowd and myself, it always makes it a little bit harder to overcome when you don’t get it done. It’s extremely exciting when you get it done, but to not be able to, it takes a little bit more than just any regular second place to process and get over.”
Making matters more difficult for Rahm is that there is heavy speculation that LIV Golf will move from Valderrama to a club in Madrid starting next year. This may have been his last chance to win at Valderrama. At least, for now.
“I just can’t describe how special it is to beat Rahm,” Gooch said. “While all the fans may not love that part, it makes it a little bit more special for me. It’s been two years since I won. My last win was here. So it’s been two years of a lot of hard work, a lot of time put into this craft, and a lot of blood, sweat and tears shed to get back here. The patience and hard work has paid off, and I couldn’t be happier for it to have paid off here at Valderrama.”
Rahm, though, was defiant as he eyes a shot at capturing the Open Championship at Royal Portrush next week. Not only is he a two-time Irish Open winner on links courses—Portstewart, down the road from Portrush, and Lahinch—but he’s been trending in the links major. He owns two top-three results in the past four Opens. A claret jug victory would put him a PGA Championship away from completing the career grand slam.
It’s a tall order. But at least Rahm is fired up after a final-round 65 at Valderrama where he made six birdies.
“Today I played one of the better rounds of golf I’ve played in a very long time,” Rahm said. “I made one bad swing, which was a really bad one, but besides that it was nothing but really good ones, which is hard to do on this golf course. It’s a very positive momentum to take into next week.”
