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LA QUINTA, Calif. — Whereas Jon Rahm had loads of probabilities to pump his proper fist after good photographs on Sunday, the look of aid on his face after holding off rookie Davis Thompson put into perspective his victory at The American Categorical.
The Spanish star took benefit of errors by Thompson over the adventuresome last three holes and closed with a 4-under 68 to win by one stroke, his second PGA Tour win in as many begins this yr.
“I am, in a bizarre means, glad that in the present day went the way in which it went,” Rahm mentioned. “I’ve loved some runaway victories, I’ve loved some comebacks, however in the present day was actually a wrestle. Out of the 5 birdies I made, what’s it, one, two, three of them had been tap-ins and the opposite two had been principally 6-footers. In order that tells you the story.”
Rahm pumped his fist a last time after tapping in for a two-putt par on No. 18 at PGA West’s Stadium Course.
Rahm and Thompson had been tied with three holes to play when Thompson, who led by 36 holes and shared the lead with Rahm getting into Sunday, pulled his drive right into a deep fairway bunker on the par-5 sixteenth and wound up with par. Rahm made birdie to take the lead.
On the par-3 seventeenth, Thompson selected to go away the pin in for his 50-foot birdie putt on the island inexperienced, and the ball squarely hit the pin and rolled away. The 23-year-old from Georgia dropped his putter and put his palms to his face. As he walked to the 18th tee after tapping in for par, he pulled his shirt up over his mouth in frustration.
“I often at all times depart the stick in from a protracted distance,” Thompson mentioned. “I really feel prefer it helps me with my pace. I am going to in all probability play the ‘what if’ recreation in my head for a very long time, sadly. I had a fantastic learn. I in all probability hit it too agency. If it had nice pace it could have simply hit the flag and dropped. However we’ll by no means know. I am pleased with myself for this week.”
Rahm hit his tee shot right into a bunker on 18 however recovered properly with a shot to fifteen toes and pumped his fist. Thompson’s drive discovered the green however his strategy bounced on the inexperienced and ran down the slope behind it. The rookie hit a daring flop store that settled a foot to the appropriate of the outlet. He shot 69.
“I had a fantastic week,” mentioned Thompson, who made 5 eagles by the primary two rounds, tying the PGA Tour document for eagles in a 72-hole occasion. “Competing towards one of the best on this planet is my dream and I did that in the present day and proved that I can grasp with ’em. It was quite a lot of enjoyable. Loads of nerves and I hit quite a lot of high quality golf photographs below strain, which was actually cool.”
Rahm completed at 27-under 261 and gained for the ninth time on the PGA Tour. He strikes up one spot to No. 3 on this planet. He’s taking part in this week at Torrey Pines, whereas world No. 1 Rory McIlroy makes his 2023 debut in Dubai on the European tour.
Rahm now has gained 4 of his final six begins — he gained twice on the European tour on the finish of final yr. This was his seventh straight high 10 worldwide, a streak that started after the Tour Championship in late August.
He turned the third participant since 2000 with a number of PGA Tour wins in January, becoming a member of Justin Thomas (2017) and Ernie Els (2003). And it was his third profession end at 27 below or higher, breaking a tie with Phil Mickelson for many in tour historical past.
“Heck of a begin,” mentioned Rahm, who gained the Sentry Match of Champions two weeks in the past at Kapalua. “Clearly Sentry and this one are very, very completely different golf programs and really completely different golf. You continue to must go low in each of them. So fortunately the mentality is identical.
“Physique’s been feeling nice. My swing’s been feeling actually, actually good. And it exhibits, proper?. Even after I’m saying I might not be as comfy as I would really like, I am capturing 64s as a result of every thing is simply firing when it must.”
Xander Schauffele, two weeks after he withdrew due to again ache, closed with a 62 and completed two behind with Chris Kirk (64). It was his third profession spherical of 10 below or higher, making him the one participant in final 40 PGA Tour seasons to have three profession last rounds that low.
Taylor Montgomery was difficult Rahm and Thompson till he put his tee shot into the water on the seventeenth. He closed with a 66 and completed fifth.
Scottie Scheffler closed with a 67 and tied for eleventh. He narrowly missed a birdie putt on the ultimate gap that will have allowed him to return to No. 1 by a fraction of some extent over McIlroy. Scheffler will not be taking part in this week.
Info from ESPN Stats & Info and The Related Press was used on this report.
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