Jon Rahm joined some elite company with his victory in The Genesis Invitational Sunday.
The 28-year-old Spaniard’s victory vaulted him back into the No. 1 spot in the world golf ranking. Beyond that, the win is Rahm’s third of the season, making him only the third golfer in the past 40 years to win three of his first six starts in a PGA Tour season. Tiger Woods, who turned the feat five times, and Justin Thomas (2016-2017) are the other two.
With Jon Rahm's win at The Genesis Invitational, he joins Tiger Woods (5x) and Justin Thomas (2016-17) as the only players over the last 40 years to win at least 3 times within their first 6 starts of a PGA TOUR season. pic.twitter.com/tl7PfA2i1q
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 19, 2023
Rahm has now won five of his last nine worldwide starts. He has 10 PGA Tournament victories.
It didn’t come easy for Rahm on Sunday, after he entered the day with a three-stroke lead. He bogeyed Nos. 10 and 12, and he trailed Max Homa by one shot at that point. But he rallied to finish with a 69, and a two-stroke win over Homa, thanks to shots like this near hole-in-one on No. 16.
😱 @JonRahmPGA is RIDICULOUS!
Nearly an ace and the closest of the day on 16. pic.twitter.com/As1nKRfeaD
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 19, 2023
“I kept telling myself after [the bogey on] 12 that even though it was an unforced error, this is a really freaking difficult golf course to finish at,” Rahm told reporters after his round (via the Los Angeles Times). “At that point you just have to change focus and stay positive.”
Rahm had some drama earlier in his tournament, including this bizarre shot in the second round.
Jon Rahm catches an incredible break off the grandstand on 17! 😅
📺: Golf Channel and @peacock pic.twitter.com/nLoxQbOKuI
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) February 18, 2023
