European Tour: Italian Open Power Rankings

This week marks young Jon Rahm’s first career Italian Open appearance. For all I care, you could drop the 22-year-old Spaniard on the moon and he’s going to get in contention to win.

The phenom is bringing it on a weekly basis, and almost always at a new course to his eyes. Most lately he top-10’d his way through the FedEx Cup Playoffs to nearly win the $10 million prize on his first try. There’s been no rookie wall at the beginning or end of his first full year as a professional. Rahm is 20-for-22 making the weekend and has two wins as part of 11 top-10s.

His last start was a T7 at the Tour Championship two weeks ago, so he should be refreshed and ready to go in preparation for the Italian Open and next week’s Andalucía Masters in his home country.

The only things I could see derailing Rahm this week are tree troubles and temper. He seems to have done a much better job with the latter, but the former is still an occasional concern. Rahm was 120th in driving accuracy on the PGA Tour in 2016-17, so he could face some tricky approach shots this week. Fortunately for Rahm, he was sixth in rough proximity.

A win this week could push Rahm to No. 2 in the Race to Dubai standings and surpass one of his childhood idols, Sergio García.

“The Italian Open is one of the great events on the European Tour and one that you want to get your hands on,” Rahm said in a European Tour press release. “The national Opens of continental Europe are steeped in history and tradition, so to win those events is really special. Winning the Irish Open a couple of months back was an amazing feeling, so hopefully I can play well in Milan and try to win another one.”