Jon Rahm sent a daunting message to his rivals as the newly crowned World Number One insists he plans to stay at the top for a long time ahead of the WGC - FedEx St Jude Invitational in Memphis, Tennessee.
Rahm ended the 2019 European Tour season in sparkling form with a second placed finish at the BMW PGA Championship before tasting victory on home soil at the Mutuactivos Open de España.
And he did not stop there as he claimed his fourth Rolex Series title at the season ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and in the process became just the second Spaniard after the great Seve Ballesteros to lift the Harry Vardon Trophy.
He registered two further runner up finishes and a third worldwide since winning it all at Jumeirah Golf Estates before the coronavirus pandemic halted competitive action for over four months.
It only took the Spaniard four events after golf returned to get back into the winner's circle after closing out a three stroke victory at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, which also saw him climb above Rory McIlroy to the top of the Official World Golf Ranking.
It's Official @JonRahmpga is World No.1!
— OWGR (@OWGRltd) July 19, 2020
the 24th No.1
the 2nd Spanish golfer after Seve Ballesteros to reach No.1
the 5th youngest after Woods, Spieth, McIlroy & Thomas.
the 3rd fastest to No.1 since turning pro after Woods & Spieth.#OWGR#OfficialWorldGolfRanking#WorldNo1 pic.twitter.com/QCWkJlRGT4
Ahead of his first European Tour event as World Number One, Rahm said: "It would be foolish of me to say that I'm not here thinking I'm the best player.
"It was a goal, it's something I set out to accomplish a long time ago and it's a true honour and it's humbling to be here, knowing how hard I've worked to get to this point.
"It's almost a consequence of how you've played in a long time. It's not just like the last two weeks or whatever. Getting to Number One in the world, you need to play good golf consecutively for a very long time. I played great golf the last four years, but I can only help but think I can keep playing that good or better to hopefully stay here for a long time.
"I'll be the first Spaniard since Seve (to become World Number One), knowing how some of the greatest golfers in history from Spain and Europe haven't been able to get here. So it's unique.
"Even my close friend Phil (Mickelson), a five-time Major champion wasn't able to get there. I'm a person that resets his goals every year and even during quarantine I wrote new ones and it was the first time when I stopped kidding myself and acknowledged that I wanted to be number one in the world.
It would be foolish of me to say that I'm not here thinking I'm the best player - Jon Rahm
"I just kind of verbalised it, put it out there and it just really sat on my brain and each day through quarantine it helped me have a light at the end of the tunnel."
Rahm soared into a three shot lead after the first round at this tournament last year but eventually finished in eighth place before his stunning end to 2019, and he hopes to be in contention again and help raise money for the St Jude Children's Research Hospital - the event's Official Charity.
"I'm excited to come back," he said. "Last year was the first time I played the event and I loved the golf course. It makes me wish I would have been here before. Great golf course, great tournament.
"What's more important, you're playing for a great cause. FedEx St. Jude Hospital and the event itself, you're actually raising awareness for the people that need it.
"I'm happy this year we're doing the Birdies for FedEx. I'm joining myself, doing $1,000 per birdie and $5,000 per eagle, so hopefully I can have a really good week and donate a lot and try to help all those in need."
