LOS ANGELES — Jon Rahm returned to No. 1 on this planet on Sunday by successful the Genesis Invitational with a efficiency that left little doubt who’s enjoying one of the best golf.
Caught in a battle with hometown favourite Max Homa at Riviera, Rahm delivered two large moments with a 45-foot birdie putt from the perimeter on the par-3 14th after which a tee shot to 2 toes for birdie on the par-3 sixteenth.
He closed with a 2-under 69 for a two-shot win over Homa.
“Fairly unimaginable,” Rahm stated. “[To win] at a golf course with this legacy, this historical past and hosted by Tiger Woods, is such an honor.”
Patrick Cantlay bought inside one shot on the again 9 till two bogeys. He had a 67 to complete alone in third, transferring him to No. 4 on this planet.
Woods had 4 bogeys in an eight-hole stretch and shot 73 to tie for forty fifth.
“Sadly, my streak continues,” Woods stated with a smile, alluding to his 12 appearances at Riviera as a professional with out ever successful.
His success was measured in progress. It was his first time enjoying 72 holes for the reason that Masters final April — Woods solely performed twice extra since then as he tries to deal with leg and again accidents that can make PGA Tour appearances uncommon. He didn’t know if he would play once more earlier than the Masters.
Woods nonetheless had the biggest gallery all the way in which to the tip, 1000’s of followers packed on the hill over the 18th inexperienced to look at him shut out with a par in that acquainted pink shirt beneath a black vest.
After which the spectators turned their consideration to a terrific duel between Rahm and Homa, every with two victories on the PGA Tour this season.
Rahm now has 5 wins in his final 9 begins worldwide, courting to his win within the Spanish Open. He has not completed out of the highest 10 in his final 10 tournaments.
It was his third win in 5 begins on the PGA Tour this 12 months, and he already has earned greater than $9 million the final two months.
This wasn’t as straightforward because it seemed on the finish.
“That was a troublesome week and a troublesome Sunday,” Rahm stated.
Homa, who gained at Riviera two years in the past, started the ultimate spherical three photographs again. He rapidly closed to inside one shot, just for the Spaniard to come back inside inches of holing out from the green at No. 8 for a tap-in birdie, whereas Homa made bogey from behind the inexperienced to slide three shot behind once more.
After which it modified rapidly.
After Homa birdied the ninth from 15 toes, he drove to the far fringe of the tenth inexperienced and bought down in two for a birdie. Rahm went properly left. His pitch was quick and rolled down the again of the inexperienced, behind a bunker. He pitched onto — after which over — the inexperienced into one other bunker, and he needed to make a 6-footer for bogey.
Two holes later, Homa took the lead for the primary time when Rahm three-putted for bogey, just for Homa to provide it again with a bogey from a nasty tee shot.
The par 3s gained it for Rahm, together with his putter and a full swing. He completed at 17-under 267 and earned $3.6 million from the $20 million purse, the second straight elevated occasion on the PGA Tour.
Rahm now has gained simply over $9.4 million within the final two months on the PGA Tour — wins at Kapalua and the California desert and on the basic course of Riviera off fabled Sundown Boulevard. He completed third in Phoenix and tied for seventh at Torrey Pines in his different two begins this 12 months.
That is the fifth time Rahm has been No. 1 on this planet, and the way in which he’s enjoying, it seems as if he may keep there for a while.
Rory McIlroy, who started the 12 months at No. 1 and gained his first occasion of the 12 months in Dubai on the European tour, was not an element for the second straight week. McIlroy had a 73-71 weekend and tied for twenty ninth.
Read the full article here
