John Rahm won the Memorial tournament on Sunday, the win leapfrogging him over Mcllroy in the standings. Rahm shot his worst card of the tournament but his three-over-par 75 was enough to win finishing on 9 under, three clear of American Ryan Palmer. Rahm becomes only the second Spaniard to sit atop the golf rankings after Seve Ballesteros.
I’ve accomplished a lifelong goal and any time I can join Spanish history with Seve is incredible,” said Rahm. “But it’s hard to process right now because golf feels secondary. I lost two family members in the [coronavirus] quarantine. There are so many things going through my mind right now that have nothing to do with golf.” The Memorial Tournament was the sixth post lockdown and was earmarked as the event to allow fans. But due to the ongoing situation, the PGA announced that the remaining nine events will be played behind closed doors.
Rahm who came into the final round leading by four extended his lead to eight after the 8th hole to ut him in commanding position going into the back nine. He bogeyed the 10th and then slammed his driver after his tee shot landed in the water. He would go on to double nb0ogey the 11th and his lead was now cut down to five. This lead was cut down to four when he birdied the 12th and then three when he bogeyed the 14th. On the par 3 16th hole, he was in trouble when he hit his tee shot into the rough. What followed was the shot of the round when he delicately chipped into the centre of the cup from the rough for birdie. “It was an unbelievable shot,” said Rahm. “It was the best short-game shot I’ve ever hit.”
Television pictures showed later that Rahm had inadvertently moved the ball a fraction. The episode was being studied by officials. Rahm later said that he became aware of the press conference before he signed his scorecard. I did not see or feel anything,” he said. “If it did move I did not see anything. It’s not going to take anything away from that shot. For that to go in, that was exactly what I needed.”
