Two eagles on the second nine holes, including an 18-meter eagle on the last. Thus was forged the sensational first victory of Jon Rahm in the best golf circuit in the world, the PGA Tour . His amateur career, his dream debut as a professional, his assault on the PGA card, … there have been many achievements at his young age, but possibly none like the one built on talent at the Farmers Insurance Open in California, where he has premiered palmarés in the biggest circuit on the planet with a historic performance.
With only 22 years old and five tournaments behind him with the PGA card in his pocket, Jon Rahm has won his first tournament. And he has done it with an impressive 65 (-7) on the last day that has made him jump from thirteenth place to the lead. A card, the Basque, with two outrageous eagles, four birdies and a single error.
His first eagle of the day, on the 13th hole, served him to take the lead, culminating a tremendous comeback against players like Justin Rose or Keegan Bradley. The second eagle, on the 18th, allowed him to feel practically the winner. Both hits came with putts of no less than eight meters.
Thus, with an audience devoted to the talent, the hot blood and the self-confidence of the Spaniard -who celebrated his excellent finish as is to be expected from a young newcomer to the elite-, one of the best news for Spanish golf in recent months was consummated. Jon Rahm is already a reality.
Second, three strokes off the lead, were Charles Howell III and C.T. Pan.
Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño also played this week in California, but he missed the cut, the same fate that befell Tiger Woods -the great media attraction of the tournament- or Rickie Fowler.
Plenary of cuts in the 2016/17 academic year
Since Jon Rahm won the PGA card for 2017 in July, thanks to a second place in the RBC Canadian Open, the Spanish golfer has worked to consolidate his position in the American Tour in his first year as a professional. With this result obtained at the Farmers Insurance Open, already in the month of January, the goal is accomplished.
Since the start of the season in October, the Basque player has made the cut in all six tournaments he has played, with a win, an eighth place and two more Top 15 finishes. The data is spectacular.
The tournament had its cross in the expected return of Tiger, who started with a round of 76 and whose 72 strokes on the second day were insufficient to overcome the cut. Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño did not make the cut either.
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