Amateur golf: Ireland’s Maguire recognised as World No 1

Jon Rahm-Rodriguez of Spain and Ireland’s Leona Maguire have been proclaimed the world’s best amateur golfers.

Both received the Mark H McCormack Medal as the number one men’s and ladies’ player in the 2015 World Amateur Golf Ranking.

“I am honoured by this award and excited about the exemptions it brings,” said Rahm-Rodriguez, a senior at Arizona State who will receive exemptions into the US Open and The Open, provided he remains an amateur. “I also feel great pride in being the first Spanish golfer to receive this distinction.”

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A first-team All-American, Rahm-Rodriguez contended in the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open in February, tying three shots off winner Brooks Koepka in fifth place.
‘I am honoured by this award and excited about the exemptions it brings’ Maguire enjoyed an outstanding season, which she came close to rounding off with a victory on the Ladies European Tour when she finished one shot behind winner Beth Allen at last month’s ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters.

The 20-year-old, who attends Duke in North Carolina, has won three events this season and said: “To be able to call myself the best amateur in the world is a nice feeling. In the last few years a lot of big names have won it and they have gone on to do great things in the game. It caps a fantastic year for me and it is rewarding after all the hard work I have put in and my family as well.”

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The World Amateur Golf Ranking was established in 2007 and encompasses more than 3,670 counting events and more than 8,940 ranked players from around 96 countries.