Jon Rahm is looking forward to a special week on and off the course as he returns to a happy hunting ground at the Amgen Irish Open.
The Spaniard was a winner in just his eighth DP World Tour start at this event nine years ago and after finishing fourth the following season, he lifted the trophy again in 2019.
Since then he has returned to the island of Ireland twice for The Open but this week he tees it up at this event for the first time since his second victory just up the coast at Lahinch.
Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Ireland, Doonbeg will be a new test competitively for everyone in the field this week and it is one Rahm is relishing as he looks to join Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Sir Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie as a three-time winner.
"I don't know what it is about Irish people, but every time I come they make me feel like I'm at home, so it's always really fun," he said.
"The hospitality I feel when I come to Ireland. I don't know if it's everybody or it's just me, I feel like everybody's always so friendly and so willing to help and in such a good mood all the time, honestly. It is truly a joy to be out here.
"I think that their understanding of golf is very special. As a professional golfer, when you come and you feel that appreciated, it's really special. It's unique. I don't know why, but Ireland is always maybe a very special place to me in my heart.
"And as golf destinations go, if anybody ever asks me I always say, if you can go to Ireland for ten days, very few ten days are going to be better than that.
"Plus or minus weather being better or worse, but besides that, the week in general, the food, the people, the atmosphere, the golf, hard to beat.
"Obviously golf has also been really, really good on my side. I don't know why, I can't pinpoint it, but we always say some weeks are special, and for me coming to Ireland just feels unique and it quickly became one of my favourite golf and tournament destinations and stays that way and it only gets better."
This year marks the tenth anniversary of Rahm turning professional and during that decade he has won ten DP World Tour titles across two Majors, five Rolex Series events and three editions of his home open.
READ MORE
• Amgen Irish Open: Five Things to Know
• Amgen Irish Open: How to watch
• Amgen Irish Open: Fantasy DP World Tour Powered by Axi ones to watch
He has also won the Harry Vardon Trophy, the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award, been World Number One and played on three victorious Ryder Cup teams.
Despite all that, however, he feels he is very much a similar player to the one he was in 2016.
"It makes me feel old," he said of his ten years in the paid ranks. "I'm not old. I don't feel old. But at the same time that statement just makes me feel old.
"I've accomplished a lot. I'm very happy with what I've done so far. Obviously as a competitor there's always times where I think I should have done more, right? We all want to win more. But I've been very, very lucky to play this game at a really high level, and I hope the next decade I can keep doing it.
"I just think I'm a little bit better at every aspect of the game. I think a little bit more experienced, more knowledgeable.
"I'm not going to say I can hit some shots that I couldn't hit back then, but I think I've just become a little bit more efficient at hitting some shots.
"But the difference in this game at the highest level between what I feel like I was back then to right now was maybe... a half a per cent in each aspect of the game can have a massive impact. So I would say more experienced, more knowledge, but nothing that is massively drastic."
Life has also changed off the course for Rahm, with he and wife Kelley welcoming sons Kepa and Eneko and daughter Alaia since 2021.
Kelley is currently pregnant with baby number four and while that has affected Rahm's preparations for this week and may jeopardise his participation on home soil next month, it is clear he would not have it any other way.
"I've been a dad basically," he said of the last few weeks.
"I've got a very pregnant wife at home who is feeling this pregnancy. Unfortunately, she was a bit under the weather, so luckily I was home and I could step in and play dad.
"So it hasn't left a lot of room for golf but at this stage of the year, having a little bit of time off and actually dealing with reality and real life, it's very nice and needed, and I was very happy to be able to be home and just take care of my kids."
