Reigning U.S. Open Champion Jon Rahm has revealed the physical limitations that cause him to swing the way he does ahead of the 149th Open Championship at Royal St George’s.
The World Number Two, who is known for his power and short back swing, goes into the week after an impressive top ten finish on his debut at the abrdn Scottish Open and during his pre-event press conference went into detail for the first time on some physical defects suffered at birth.
“I was born with a club foot on my right leg which meant my ankle was straight but my foot was 90 degrees turned inside,” explained Rahm.
This resulted in doctors breaking his ankle and placing it into a cast within 20 minutes of him being born to realign his bones.
“I think every week I had to go back to the hospital to get re-casted, so from the knee down my leg didn't grow at the same rate,” he said. “So I have very limited ankle mobility in my right leg. It's a centimetre and a half shorter as well.”
The lack of mobility in his right leg is also apparent in his wrists which explains the bowed wrist at the top of the backswing and which, in turn, allows greater efficiency from his swing.
“Let your body dictate how you can swing,” he said. “I didn't take a full swing because my right ankle doesn't have the mobility or stability to take it. I learned at a very young age that I'm going to be more efficient at creating power and be consistent from a short swing.
“If I take a full swing to parallel, yeah, it might create more speed, but I have no stability. My ankle just can't take it. Let your body dictate how you can swing.”
Rahm has enjoyed previous success on links courses, having won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in 2017 and 2019, and he is excited to bring the variety of shots required to Royal St George’s this week.
“I've loved it every time” he said. “Mainly because you truly have to play your own game and learn from the golf course. You have a little bit more variety of golf. It's the unique part about it.
“It's the ever-changing, let's say, wind, the weather conditions, the ever-changing state of the golf course. It's what makes it such a great week, and every time you come to the UK. It's something I've always enjoyed. There's always a little bit of luck involved in what part of the draw you are on, depending on the weather you get, and that's part of golf.”
