Jon Rahm Facts: 30 Things To Know About The LIV Golf Star

Jon Rahm is one of the biggest names in professional golf, with two Major wins and over 20 professional titles along with 52 weeks as World No.1.

He has also represented Europe at the Ryder Cup three times in 2018, 2021 and 2023.

Get to know the LIV Golfer better with these facts as well as his bio, wins and career earnings...

Jon Rahm facts:

1. He was born in a small town called Barrika, in the Basque region of Spain located in the very north of the country.

2. Rahm attended Arizona State University where he collected 11 collegiate victories. This ranks second in school history behind Phil Mickelson's 16 wins.

3. He currently holds the record for being the number one ranked amateur in the world for the longest period of time. Overall he held that distinction for 60 weeks between 2015 and 2016.

4. He became the first golfer to win the Ben Hogan award in two consecutive years. The award is given to the best player in college golf in the United States.

5. In January 2017 he secured his first PGA Tour victory and first professional win at the Farmers Insurance Open. He holed a 60-foot eagle putt on the 18th.

6. To help him learn English, Rahm listened to a lot of hip-hop. Two of his favorite songs were Love The Way You Lie by Eminem and Kendrick Lamar’s Swimming Pools.

7. His wife is Kelley Cahill, a former javelin thrower at Arizona State University. They got married in Spain in December 2019 and had their first son, Kepa, together in April 2021 and their second son, Eneko, in August 2022. Their third child and first daughter, Alaia Cahill, was born in September 2024.

8. Rahm’s surname isn’t Spanish and originates from a Swiss ancestor who moved to Spain in the 1780s.

9. He grew up participating in sports and activities such as soccer, canoeing, jai alai and kung fu, before focusing on golf.

10. From an early age, his father pushed him to move to the United States because he believed that was where the future of golf lay.

11. After attending the 1997 Ryder Cup, his parents Edorta and Angela, took up golf. Jon then followed in their footsteps.

12. Despite not knowing English very well, Rahm managed to secure a 3.6 GPA in his first semester at Arizona State.

13. While Rahm was at Arizona State University, he was mentored by Phil Mickelson’s brother Tim, who was a golf coach at the college.

14. He won the Race to Dubai in 2019 to become the first Spaniard since Seve Ballesteros to win the European Tour Order of Merit.

15. Rahm is an avid supporter of Spanish soccer club Athletic Bilbao and their nickname - 'The Lions' - helped inspire his Legion XIII LIV Golf team logo.

16. He is a member of Whisper Rock Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona.

17. In 2014 and 2015, Rahm won two Amateur Spanish National titles.

18. He was the fastest Spanish player in history to win five DP World Tour titles, achieving the feat in 39 starts - 10 fewer than Seve Ballesteros.

19. In July 2020, he became the second Spanish man to become World No.1 after Seve Ballesteros. The great Spaniard is Rahm's idol, although he was never able to meet him.

20. He has won over $52 million in official earnings on the PGA Tour - which doesn't take into account bonuses and FedEx Cup prize money.

21. Rahm has two holes-in-one in two days at the 2020 Masters, one of which came at the 16th hole in which he skipped the ball over the water. He has had eight holes-in-one in total.

22. He is the first and only Spaniard to win the US Open. He became the fourth player from Spain to win the Masters in 2023.

23. He twice tested positive for Covid-19 during the 2021 season, and both had huge consequences. His first positive test meant he had to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament while six clear with 18 holes to play, and his second positive result meant he couldn't play in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

24. Rahm has won the Irish Open, Spanish Open and DP World Tour Championship three times.

25. After previously proclaiming his “fealty” to the PGA Tour following the emergence of LIV Golf, Rahm shocked the world by signing with the Saudi-backed tour for a reported deal of almost $600 million – one of the most lucrative contracts in the history of sports. His move drew accusations of hypocrisy given his past statements.

26. He was 2nd in Forbes' 2024 Highest Paid Athletes List with earnings of $218m for the year. Only soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo had earned more.

27. Rahm is one of the best drivers of the ball in the world. He has finished in the top 22 on the PGA Tour in driving distance for every season since he joined the tour in 2016. He finished as the best in the tour for total driving in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

28. Rahm’s caddie is Adam Hayes, who has been on his bag since he turned pro in 2016.

29. He won two LIV Golf tournaments in his debut season, triumphing in the UK and Chicago events.

30. He won the Individual title in his first season with LIV to pick up the $18m bonus.

Jon Rahm career earnings

Rahm won over $52 million in official money on the PGA Tour before joining LIV Golf. He also has over €27.5m won on the DP World Tour.

According to the Telegraph, Rahm’s deal with LIV Golf was $566 million, with $302m paid upfront. He became the highest paid athlete of 2023 after his LIV move, beating out sporting superstars like Shohei Ohtani, Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James.

He won $16.75m in official money in his LIV Golf debut but also won the Individual title to take home the $18m bonus, meaning his winnings were $34.75m in his first season on the team golf tour.

Who is Jon Rahm’s wife? 

Rahm is married to Kelley Cahill. They live in Scottsdale, Arizona with their two sons.

jon Rahm driving distance

Rahm averaged 314 yards with the driver in 2023, finishing 11th on the PGA Tour. He has finished first in total driving twice since joining the tour in 2016.

He ranked 4th in driving distance during the 2024 LIV Golf League season with an average of 318.7 yards.

How much does Jon Rahm make from sponsors?

According to Forbes, Rahm made $20 million in endorsements between May 2023-2024. Aside from his equipment sponsorship with Callaway, Rahm also has deals with Mercedes-Benz, Rolex, Vista Jet, Silverleaf Club and JDA.

Which part of Spain is Jon Rahm from?

Jon Rahm is from Barrika, Spain, which is on the north coast of the country. It is around 20km north of the city of Bilbao, which is the capital of the Basque region. Basque Country has its own language and a distinct culture. 

Why is Jon Rahm's backswing so short?

Rahm was born with a club foot in his right foot, meaning his right ankle doesn't have the flexibility of others. It means he developed a shorter backswing. “I was born with a club foot on my right leg, which means for anybody that’s sensitive about that, my right leg up to the ankle was straight, my foot was 90 degrees turned inside and basically upside down,” Rahm said. “So when I was born, they basically relocated, pretty much broke every bone in the ankle and I was casted within 20 minutes of being born from the knee down."