Jon Rahm names the only person in Europe’s Ryder Cup team room who can properly evoke memories of Seve Ballesteros

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During his time in the game, Seve Ballesteros encapsulated everything that the Ryder Cup was, and still is, all about.

Jon Rahm is clearly a huge fan of the late great Ballesteros, understandably so given everything his fellow Spaniard achieved in the game, especially at the Ryder Cup.

Ballesteros was known for taking inexperienced Ryder Cup players under his wing, and he was a shining beacon of hope for Team Europe after years of the United States dominating the competition.

The five-time major champion was an all-time great in the golfing world, but he was most well known for his unadulterated love for the Ryder Cup.

Seve famously gave Constantino Rocca advice before the Italian beat Tiger Woods at the 1997 Ryder cup at Valderrama.

Since the passing of Ballesteros in 2011, the European Ryder Cup teams have used him as inspiration, no more so than in 2012 when Jose Maria Olazabal led his team to victory on American soil at Medinah.

Rahm has always looked up to both of his fellow countrymen and that admiration shone through brightly when the LIV golfer spoke to reporters at Wentworth on Tuesday ahead of the BMW Championship.

Jon Rahm praises Jose Maria Olazabal for evoking Ryder Cup memories of Seve Ballesteros

Olazabal and Ballesteros were extremely close off the golf course, and the great man’s death 14 years ago hit his good friend hard.

‘Ollie’, as he is known, knew the great man inside and out.

So then, it’s no surprise that he always strives to summon the spirit of Seve during Ryder Cup weeks.

Rahm praised Olazabal for the way he is able to evoke memories of Ballesteros like nobody else can.

He said: “We’re so lucky to have José be a part of it because the legend of Seve comes so alive when he’s there to tell you the stories and tell you what happened, right. If anybody else is trying to explain what he was and what happened in some of those team rooms, I almost feel like he comes short. And I get a little extra lucky because even though his English is very good, he can put a lot more meaning into it in Spanish.

“And I hear the stories, and I can say in Spanish a little bit extra feeling to it which is even better. Maybe it’s because you say it in Spanish, but — it’s just a little bit higher and brings it even more alive which is incredible. I’ve heard many of the stories with different people and every time I hear it, it’s like for the first time. The goosebumps come and it’s very funny stories and he’s an integral part of our time.“

Seve Ballesteros vs Jon Rahm: Ryder Cup records compared

If Rahm manages to replicate Seve’s Ryder Cup record by the time he hangs up his clubs, he will have enjoyed a fantastic career.

Here are the two Spaniards’ Ryder Cup records compared side by side:

Rahm is just 30, so he has a good six or seven Ryder Cups left to play while he’s still at the top of his game.

His record right now is an impressive one and he’ll be hoping to improve upon it even further still at Bethpage Black later this month.

If Europe are to win away from home just like they did at Medinah 13 years ago, Rahm and co may well have to summon the spirit of the great Ballesteros once again, and having Olazabal as one of the vice-captains will clearly help them do just that.