AUGUSTA, Ga (AP) — Jon Rahm is a Masters champion and he can say the omen was the message from a fortune cookie from a Chinese fast-food restaurant nearly 10 years ago.
Rahm was starting his sophomore year with Arizona State when he opened the cookie that read, “Your talents will be recognized and honored accordingly.” He shared the message with his coach on Twitter of him saying, “I’m going to win the Masters!”
If only it were that simple. Nothing came easier for the 28-year-old Spaniard in this edition until he pumped the ball over the par-trap on the final hole to win by four shots over Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson, his coach’s older brother at the University.
Since the second round began on Friday, Rahm was not in the lead until Koepka began to lose his rhythm and his putting touch. He took 42 holes from Rahm before putting his name in front and taking control as Koepka kept making mistakes and had the mindset to do what it took to win.
It’s been like that since Rahm started playing and everyone knew it.
Phil Mickelson predicted his greatness before the Spaniard turned professional in 2016 and claimed that Rahm was among the top 10 golfers in the world even before he won his first tournament.
Rahm reclaimed the top spot in the world rankings with a Masters victory—adding to his US Open title he won two years ago at Torrey Pines—even with seven world-level victories in the past year, he remains on a Close race with Scottie Scheffler.
But the reason the Rahm has gotten so much attention is that everyone saw it coming, with or without a fortune cookie. Koepka won his first PGA Tour title at the Phoenix Open in 2015, the year Rahm finished tied for fifth in his junior year.
It took him four tournaments on Tour to secure his card. Since his first full year as a professional he has won at least one tournament a year and has won 20 around the world.
But don’t underestimate that he has a communication degree from Arizona State, which he earned in four years after coming to college unable to speak English.
“We made a great effort to be able to beat the best in the world. So that’s the level of intensity and determination that you see and why they consider me a fighter,” Rahm said. “He couldn’t live with myself if he didn’t try his best on every shot. So maybe that’s where it comes from.”
The Masters and the US Open. They asked him about the Grand Slam.
“We must not get ahead of ourselves,” he warned.
He is halfway there and now he needs to win the PGA Championship and the British Open. But it’s good enough that it doesn’t sound absurd with or without a fortune cookie.