In this series, we've unearthed images from the RFEG's photographic archive, each one telling a beautiful golf story. The story of our golf. They are OUR CHAMPIONS.

📆 May and September 2015.

⛳ Ben Hogan Award and Mark H. McCormack Medal

▶ On July 20, 2020, Jon Rahm reached the top of professional golf by distinguishing himself as number 1 in the World Ranking, a privilege ceded fifteen days later to Justin Thomas but recovered after a week to, hopefully, remain in time.

▶ Well, five years earlier, our beloved Jon Rahm had already experienced similar situations, but in the amateur sphere. First, in May 2015, he received the Ben Hogan Award, an award given to the best player of the year in the American college league.

▶ A few months later, specifically on September 1, 2015, Jon Rahm received the Mark H. McCormack Medal, the distinction awarded to the number 1 in the Amateur World Ranking, recognition of the merits acquired throughout a sporting career as explosive as it was spectacular, which also took him to the top of the world, in this case in the amateur field.

“It’s a joy for me to receive this award and the exemptions that come with it,” said Jon Rahm, referring to the opportunity the award afforded him to compete in the 2016 US Open and Open Championship. “I feel very honored to be the first Spanish player to achieve this distinction,” he added, already writing an impressive sporting story in his own right.

▶ Jon Rahm, trained at the Blume National School between 2010 and 2012, was then developing his career at Arizona State University, where he quickly became a key player for the team captained by Tim Mickelson, brother of professional player Phil.

▶ His fifth place in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, a PGA tournament held in February at TPC Scottsdale (Arizona), while still an amateur, amazed the golfing world, which has since watched his continuous feats with anticipation.

▶ To reach the distinction of number 1 in the World Amateur Ranking, Jon Rahm accumulated numerous individual and team victories up to 2015. In July 2015, at the RCG Las Palmas, he capped off an intense, fulfilling, and increasingly satisfying relationship with the Spanish Championships in the different categories, a partnership that began in 2009 at the cadet level, continued in 2010 as the best Under 18 and Junior player – a double title he won again in 2012 – and was further solidified with the victory in the aforementioned Spanish Absolute Championship.

▶ In addition, Jon Rahm starred in two great performances in 2014 in two top-level team events: in the European Team Championship, where Spain was crowned champion; and in the World Championship in Japan, in which Spain was third and the Basque player was the best player of the tournament.

Check out the entire Our Champions series below, in the Related News section.