Jon Rahm has been awarded the Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Month Award for July in recognition of his record-breaking victory at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation.
The Spaniard has provided one of the most incredible stories in world golf over the past 18 months, rising from 551st in the Official World Golf Ranking at the beginning of 2016 to his current heady position of World Number Seven.
Rahm’s victory at Portstewart Golf Club came courtesy of an incredible final round 65 which lifted him to a six-shot victory on 24 under par, the lowest under par winning score in the tournament’s long history.
In the process, the 23 year old joined an illustrious list of Spanish former winners of the event – alongside Seve Ballesteros, José María Olazábal and Sergio Garcia.
The winner was chosen by a panel of respected golf journalists who had a tough call on their hands in a month when Rahm’s compatriot and friend Rafa Cabrera Bello claimed a dramatic triumph at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, while England’s Tommy Fleetwood claimed his second European Tour victory of the year at the HNA Open de France.
Rahm receives Hilton Honors Diamond Elite Status – the highest tier of the hotel’s renowned loyalty scheme – for winning the Golfer of the Month award.
“I am really happy to have been chosen as the Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Month for July,” said Rahm. “Winning the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open was a pretty special moment in my career.
“Winning on the European Tour meant a lot to me and it got a lot of attention from the media in Spain. That shows what the win meant to my home country too.
“I’m honoured to have been picked for this award, especially when Rafa put on such an amazing display in Scotland in the same month.”
Cabrera Bello – who beat Englishman Callum Shinkwin at Dundonald Links to claim his first European Tour victory since 2012 – finished second in the vote, while Fleetwood – who beat Peter Uihlein by a shot at Le Golf National – finished third.
Neil McLeman, Sports Writer for the Daily Mirror, said: “Rahm announced himself as a global star when he followed his January win on the PGA Tour with his first European Tour victory in the third Rolex Series event at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
“Four scores in the 60s over a links course which experienced some difficult conditions during the week is a devastating display and he is a deserving recipient of this award.”
