It’s The Open … but not as we know it. In a normal year, for instance, one of the star attractions doing his pre-championship press conference in the media centre would prompt the kind of mass migration you’d see on an Attenborough documentary as the golf writers stampede from their desks to the jam-packed interview area.

In these times of continued limits on this and restrictions on that, however, there are only 15 socially-distanced seats available. Interestingly, that’s about the same amount of words a languid Dustin Johnson would mumble during one of his more taciturn exchanges.

The numbers may be down here at the 149th championship at Royal St George’s but there’s always plenty to talk about.

In a crash, bang, wallop age of mighty bombers coiling themselves into shoulder-popping backswings, Jon Rahm’s relatively modest rotation is in stark contrast to the barnstorming mechanics of the other big-hitters.

There’s a reason for that, of course. And it’s one Rahm has not talked about. Until now. In Open week, the world No 1 opened up on a swing that may be short but can still generate an average clatter of some 307 yards off the tee.

“I was born with a clubfoot on my right leg, which means my right leg up to the ankle was straight, my foot was 90 degrees turned inside and basically upside down,” Rahm said of an abnormality which has led to certain physical limitations. “When I was born, they basically relocated, pretty much broke every bone in the ankle and I was casted within 20 minutes of being born from the knee down.

“Every week I had to go back to the hospital to get re-casted. From the knee down, my leg didn’t grow at the same rate. I have very limited ankle mobility in my right leg. It's a centimetre and a half shorter, as well. So I didn't take a full swing because my right ankle doesn't have the mobility or stability to take it.

“I learned at a very young age that I'm going to be more efficient at creating power and be consistent from a short swing. If I take a full to parallel swing, it might create more speed, but I have no stability. My ankle just can't take it.”

In some ways, those limitations have probably been a benefit. Rahm knows what he can and cannot do and you’ll not see him fiddling, tweaking and titivating a swing that continues to serve him well.

“When you come to a tournament, it's time to perform,” said the reigning US Open champion. “If you're searching for a swing during a major championship week, it's usually a red flag. That’s just the way I choose to do things.

“I haven't actively tried to change my swing in over 10 years. I have the swing I have and I think that is one of the keys to why I'm consistent. I don't change it. I play with what I have and try to improve from what I have.

“I think it's the biggest lesson I can give any young player. Don't try to copy me. Don't try to copy any swing out there. Just swing your swing.”

Here at Royal St George’s, Rahm is looking to teach everybody another major lesson. His thrilling victory in the US Open at Torrey Pines last month finally earned him the maiden major title we all expected he would win. Now that he has dunted the monkey off his back, Rahm is hungry for more as he strives to become just the seventh player to win both the US Open and The Open in the same season.

“It would be pretty incredible,” he said of the prospect of a transatlantic double. “I did have a sense of relief after winning the first major. I felt like for the best part of five years, all I heard was ‘major, major, major’ just because I was playing good golf. The fact that you are expected to win one means nothing.”

One of Rahm’s first tastes of links golf was here at Sandwich back in 2009 when he played in the Boys’ Amateur Championship. “The course hasn’t changed but I’ve changed quite a bit,” added Rahm, who would turn professional in 2016 and enjoy the kind of meteoric rise you’d get with vessels of space exploration. “This is where I had my first links golf experience so there’s a little bit of nostalgia in there. I’m excited.”