Jon Rahm could not have had a better debut in his professional career. The Basque player, who last week was the best amateur at the US Open, finished yesterday as the solo leader after the first round of the Quicken Loans National, a tournament of the United States Tour (PGA Tour) that is being played at the Congressional Country Club in the city of Bethesda, Maryland.
Rahm finished his first round with a 64, seven under par, which makes him the best Spanish professional debutant in an international tournament, surpassing Severiano Ballesteros, José María Olazábal and Sergio García in his debut.
The Biscayan golfer made seven birdies in his first round as a professional.
“I’ve been very comfortable on the tee, hitting it very well and very straight and that has allowed me to be a little more aggressive,” the Spaniard assured. “The only difference is that now I don’t have teammates, otherwise it’s pretty much the same,” he replied when asked about the differences between college golf, in which he won 11 titles and was named player of the year twice in a row (2015, 2016).
Second place in the first round went to Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas, who became the surprise of the tournament so far with a 65.
Tied for third place with 66 strokes were eight contenders: Americans Jamie Lovemark, Kyle Reifers, Bill Haas, Harold Varner III, Billy Hurley III and Wesley Bryan, as well as South Africa’s Ernie Els and Colombia’s Camilo Villegas, who finished in a tie for third place with 66 strokes .
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