CareerBuilder Challenge Power Rankings: Top ten at PGA West

LA QUINTA, CA - JANUARY 22: The group of Adam Hadwin of Canada, Dominic Bozzelli and Hudson Swafford prepare to putt on the fifth green during the final round of the CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with The Clinton Foundation at the TPC Stadium Course at PGA West on January 22, 2017 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LA QUINTA, CA - JANUARY 22: The group of Adam Hadwin of Canada, Dominic Bozzelli and Hudson Swafford prepare to putt on the fifth green during the final round of the CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with The Clinton Foundation at the TPC Stadium Course at PGA West on January 22, 2017 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LAHAINA, HI – JANUARY 07: Jon Rahm of Spain prepares to play from the first tee during the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club on January 7, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images) /

Jon Rahm knows a thing or too about career building. He’s quickly built himself up to become one of the world’s elite players by the ripe age of 23.

Rahm is at his peak in the world rankings at No. 3, and that’s a product of his last start being a solo runner-up finish (well behind Dustin Johnson, albeit). Prior, Rahm beat a talented field at the DP World Tour Championship in November to cap the European Tour’s Race to Dubai Final Series.

The Spaniard won three times in 2017 worldwide and was runner-up twice more. His on-course anger issues appear to be tempering and he shows up week in and week out as evidenced by three missed cuts for all of 2017.

Rahm didn’t have a poor round in finishing T34 in his debut at PGA West last year, but his Friday 66 was his only sub-70 round. He’s familiar with the course as he played it twice in his collegiate days at Arizona State with his last start a T3 in a field featuring Maverick McNealy and Sam Burns, to name a few.

At this point, Rahm is a safe pick no matter where he plays. He’s the headliner this week and should find himself in the mix come Sunday.

Next: Team Europe comes back on Sunday to win EurAsia Cup