Jon Rahm wins 121st US Open at Torrey Pines on his first Father’s Day
Jon Rahm won the 121st US Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California, on Sunday.
Rahm gets a exclusive club together with his first ever major win, becoming the first Spaniard at any point to win at the US Open.
Rahm, the third-ranked player in the world, putted consecutive birdies on the seventeenth and 18th holes, sinking clutch putts of 24 and 18 feet separately to take a one-stroke lead to the clubhouse. He needed to observe apprehensively as the final groups finished their rounds, yet no one was able to match his winning score of six-under par.
The victory comes fourteen days after Rahm had to pull out from the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, after he tried positive for Covid-19. Rahm was educated regarding his Covid-positive status moments after he completed his third round with a six-shot lead over his closest competitor.
“I’m a big believer in karma, and after what happened a couple weeks ago, I stayed real positive knowing big things were coming. I didn’t know what it was going to be, but I knew we were coming to a special place,” Rahm said moments after his victory Sunday.
“I know I got my breakthrough win here and it’s a very special place for my family, and the fact that my parents were able to come — I got out of Covid protocol early — I just felt the stars were aligning,” Rahm said.
The location of the triumph additionally holds an special place in Rahm’s heart.
In addition to the fact that he had his historic success at Torrey Pines, yet he additionally proposed to his now-wife at the location.
The victory additionally had additional importance for Rahm, falling on his first Father’s Day as a dad. Rahm hugged his infant son and his wife moments after he was pronounced the champ.
“It reminds me a lot to back home (sic). It’s not exactly the same, but the coastline, the weather, the temperature, this is basically a good summer day where I grew up,” Rahm said. “I think it’s something that really resonates with me, I’m really confident in it. Everything that’s happened here — I don’t know why — but every time we come here, we’re just happy.”
Power of a strong finish
At the point when he had to pull out from the Memorial Tournament last month, Rahm was apparently in the best type of his career.
Remembering the ZOZO Championship for October 2020, he had played in 13 PGA Tour events, missing the cut only a single time, completing in the main five three times and in the best 10 nine times.
In spite of the fact that pulling out at Muirfield Village Golf Club and being forced to isolate may have dampened his outlook, Rahm took it in stride to make history.
In the wake of checking a promising initial three rounds, Rahm began Sunday as one of 13 players inside four shots of the lead.
In spite of battling former major winners and the up and coming age of golf stars – from Bryson DeChambeau to Rory McIlroy – Rahm remained calm.
Albeit the chasing pack – including Rahm – holed various birdies on the front nine of the intense California course, the back nine was an different story, with players struggling to make par.
With one contender after another exiting, Rahm kept on playing consistent golf to stay in contention.
However, others took their actions on Sunday, with both Oosthuizen and DeChambeau each asserting a portion of the lead sooner or later during the day, just to fall away not long after.
Rahm’s opportunity to split away hoped to have passed as he reached the finish of his round, botching birdie openings on the 14th and 15th holes, before an unruly drive on the 17th had individuals wondering whether he also was getting endlessly.
However, an astounding methodology shot and birdie putt had the 26-year-old celebrating fiercely as he joined Oosthuizen at the highest point of the leaderboard.
Fighting his nerves, he made another challenging birdie on the 18th hole to guarantee a single shot lead, sitting and trust that the later gatherings will complete to know whether he’d done what’s necessary to win.
After Oosthuizen failed to recreate the magical eagle he made on the final hole on Saturday, Rahm at last realized his debut major victory, celebrating with his better half and infant child, just as ongoing PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson, who remained behind to complimented the Spaniard.
“It’s incredible that I’m sitting next to this trophy,” Rahm said. “A couple weeks ago, I watched my good friend Phil win it. Not this one, but win the PGA, and I took a lot of inspiration from that.
“I’ve been close before, and I just knew on a Sunday, the way I have been playing the last few majors, I just had to be close. I knew I could get it done. I’m keeping that good Sunday mojo going. Man, I got it done in a fashion that apparently can only happen to me at Torrey Pines.”
