Jon Rahm didn’t shy away from the tough challenge of building his personal golf Mount Rushmore.
The famous U.S. monument is often referenced in sports debates about the greatest players of all time.
Rahm named the four faces he would place on the landmark based on their careers, showing great respect for golf’s old guard.
Jon Rahm reveals his Mount Rushmore of golf, featuring four legends
Rahm has always had a deep appreciation for the sport’s past.
So it makes sense that his picks lean towards the icons who shaped the game long before he arrived on the scene.
When asked who he’d choose to stand alongside those presidents, Rahm explained: “My Mount Rushmore of golfers is Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus – the two greatest champions that golf has ever seen. It’s a bit like the debate of Cristiano and Messi on who’s the best, I’ll leave it up to you.
“Then I’m going to put Ben Hogan, a little bit earlier, in the 50s, but I think what Hogan was able to achieve back then was quite incredible. The fact that he got in a car wreck that almost left him paralysed and after that still won tournaments.
“Then the fourth, this is my personal hero, so I’m going to have to say Seve Ballesteros. I think how he changed the golfing landscape playing in Europe is quite special. Very few players have ever been able to play like him. Very few players had his charisma; he was the first European player to win The Masters.
“He was able to accomplish those things from being a farmer whose family didn’t play golf to becoming one of the best ever, including being number one in the world. If it wasn’t for him, I certainly wouldn’t be here. So I owe him, not everything but a lot, so he has to be in my top four.“
It’s a strong list from Rahm – one built not just on stats but on stories and influence.
Looking at the Major Championships of Rahm, Woods, Nicklaus, Hogan and Ballesteros
Rahm still has some way to go before he matches his idol Seve Ballesteros’ total of major titles.
Here’s how the major records of those four players stack up against Rahm’s:
| Name | Major wins |
| Jack Nicklaus | 18 |
| Tiger Woods | 15 |
| Ben Hogan | 9 |
| Seve Ballesteros | 5 |
| Jon Rahm | 2 |
The gap between Nicklaus and Woods and the rest is clear, with both setting standards that may never be matched.
Even so, Hogan’s nine majors stand out, especially considering that six came after a car accident in 1949 that nearly ended his career.
For now, Rahm’s focus will be on adding another title to his own tally before thinking about closing in on Ballesteros’ mark.
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