Jon Rahm is already gearing up to compete in the Masters at Augusta and potentially defend the title he secured last year. However, amidst his professional commitments, he remains deeply connected to Athletic Bilbao, the team of his heart, of which he is a member and served as the first ambassador in 2023, the club’s 125th anniversary.
Every time he returns home, one of his priorities is to attend a match at San Mamés stadium, his local shrine.
Jon Rahm, results
The native of Barrika experienced joy on Saturday with Athletic’s Copa del Rey victory at La Cartuja stadium in Seville, although the match was a nail-biter that went down to penalties.
Finally, the red-and-white team savored a major title after a 40-year drought. “I thought you weren’t going to ask! I finished with a -2 in Miami, darn it. As soon as I got on the buggy, the screen was halfway hidden, and I caught just the start of extra time.
There was another Athletic fan around, and I told him not to tell me anything, neither good nor bad, because I would get nervous… and he just told me they were in extra time!” the Biscayan golfer shared with this newspaper.
“I happened to have a physio appointment, so I watched the penalties there… and I was able to enjoy it, albeit quietly, because I didn’t want to disturb anyone. And then, seeing the Mallorca fans almost celebrating… and then watching Julen save the first one, then Mallorca misses the second…
and how well Athletic took the penalties… That first one from Raúl García, the keeper guessing right but he still scores, and Berenguer’s too… to score a penalty slipping… John Terry would love to go back, slip again, and have that Champions League final go in… There’s where luck comes into play,” added the golfer, who is aiming to win the first major of the season.
