PGA Tour: Jon Rahm in position to win Memorial Tournament
By Tim Letcher
Jon Rahm is in a great position with 18 holes to play at the Memorial Tournament. Can he earn his fourth PGA Tour victory?
Jon Rahm finds himself in the mix at this week’s Memorial Tournament. With 18 holes to play, Rahm is in position to win again on the PGA Tour.
Rahm came into Saturday having shot a pair of solid rounds to start the week. He carded a 3-under par 69 on Thursday to open the event and followed that with a 5-under par 67 on Friday. Prior to Saturday’s round, Rahm was in third place, just one shot behind Tony Finau and Ryan Palmer.
More from Pro Golf Now
- Golf Rumors: LIV set to sign Masters Champion in stunning deal
- Fantasy Golf: Grant Thornton Invitational DFS Player Selections
- Brutal return leaves Will Zalatoris looking towards 2024
- Stars You Know at World Champions Cup Starts Thursday at Concession
- Fantasy Golf: An Early Look at the 2024 Masters Tournament
On Saturday, it was clear that Rahm was ready to take control of this event, although the fireworks didn’t really start until the back nine. In fact, Rahm’s round was very quiet through the first six holes, all of which he parred.
It was the par-5 seventh hole where Rahm made his first birdie of the day. However, he followed that immediately with a bogey on the eighth hole to fall back to even par. That’s where he finished his front nine.
As he started the back side, Rahm started with three more pars. Then he really got things going and took command of the tournament.
On the par-4 13th hole, Rahm hit his approach shot to about 13 feet and sank the putt for his second birdie of the day. On the 14th hole, another par four, Rahm’s approach left him just under five feet for birdie, which he was able to convert to move to 2-under on the day.
Rahm took advantage of the par-5 15th hole, hitting the green in two, then, after a good lag putt, making a three-foot putt for his third consecutive birdie. And on the 16th hole, his tee shot was about 25 feet from the hole but it did not matter. The red-hot Rahm rolled in the birdie putt, giving him four straight birdies.
Meanwhile, the rest of the field was falling back as the conditions were getting tougher
Rahm was able to negotiate the final two holes with pars, giving him a 4-under par 68 on the day. In fact, only Rahm and Brendon Todd shot in the 60s (both has rounds of 68) on Saturday at Muirfield Village.
Rahm has won three times on the PGA Tour in his career, once in each of the last three years. His first PGA Tour win came in 2017 at the Farmers Insurance Open. The next season, he won at the CareerBuilder Challenge. And last season, he partnered with Palmer to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Ironically, those two players will be in the final pairing on Sunday.
This season, Rahm has done everything but win on the tour. This week is his 10th event so far this season. In his previous nine events, Rahm has made the cut eight times with five top 25 finishes and four top 10s.
Next. Best Golfer from each state: Ohio Golf and Jack Nicklaus. dark
He was runner-up at the Farmers Insurance Open and tied for third at the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship. Rahm tied for ninth at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and was 10th in the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
If Rahm can keep the momentum going on Sunday, he’ll get that fourth career victory. It certainly appears that’s where the Memorial is headed tomorrow.