Jon Rahm expressed a wish out loud just a year ago, minutes after Scottie Scheffler helped him put on the Green Jacket. The victory in the Masters opened wide the doors of the champions’ locker room at Augusta National, one of the sanctuaries of the sport. The next issue was to know with which other players he was going to share the locker.
Rahm asked to be with the Spaniards, with Seve Ballesteros, who currently has the same space as Charl Schwartzel, or with José María Olazábal and Sergio García, who are together. “I wouldn’t mind if we were three,” he assured. Not at all. His champion’s wishes have not been orders. Rahm shares the locker with Art Wall, winner of the Masters in 1959, and Bob Goalby, champion in the 1968 edition. Both have passed away, so really the one from Barrika has it all for himself.
Olazábal y Sergio ya están juntos en el vestuario de campeones
Although it may not seem like it, there is a curious connection between Wall and Rahm. A connection between Wall and Spanish golf in Augusta. And it is that in 1959, the year of his triumph, the debut of the first Spaniard in history in the Masters took place. It was Ángel de Miguel, who with a third of the third round to go was in the top 3 of the tournament…
In addition, Wall, born in 1923, won four tournaments on the PGA Tour that year, just as Rahm did last year. He was also known for his ability to get holes in one. Between competition and leisure rounds he signed a total of 45. This figure was considered a Guinness record for many years. He won in 1959 after making five birdies in the last six holes and beating Arnold Palmer.
Goalby also went down in Masters history, although for a much less beautiful chapter. He was the indirect executioner of Roberto de Vicenzo, the most controversial ending in Augusta history. The legendary Argentine golfer and Goalby ended up tied after 72 holes, so they had to return the next day to play 18 playoff holes. They never got to celebrate…
De Vicenzo was disqualified from the tournament for signing the card incorrectly. Specifically, in a hole where he had made a birdie, the result of par appeared, so, according to the rules and although he had no intention of benefiting, he was eliminated and Goalby was declared the winner. Died in 2022 at the age of 92, Jon’s flamboyant locker mate is also the grandfather of Jay Haas and, therefore, great-grandfather of Bill Haas, one of the FedEX Cup champions.
