LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Jon Rahm became the first Spaniard since Seve Ballesteros in 1989 to hold golf’s world No. 1 ranking, fending off a late challenge Sunday to win the US PGA Memorial tournament.
Rahm holed out an amazing 31-foot chip shot at the par-3 16th and, despite a two-stroke penalty that turned it from a birdie to a bogey, took a three-stroke victory over American Ryan Palmer that boosted him over Rory McIlroy atop the rankings.
Rahm was among the Spanish youth inspired by the feats of Ballesteros, a five-time major champion who died in 2011 at age 54 of brain cancer.
Rahm said the moment was difficult to comprehend in part because his thoughts were with his family, two members of which have died from COVID-19.
Rahm fired a three-over par 75 in the final round to finish on nine-under 279 with Palmer second.
England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick was third on 283 after a closing 68 while Australia’s Jason Day and England’s Matt Wallace shared fourth on 284.
Rahm began with a four-shot edge and made the turn ahead by eight before dropping four strokes in a five-hole span with a bogey at the 10th, double-bogey at 11 and a bogey at 14 as Palmer pulled within three.
Jack Nicklaus, the 18-time major winner who hosts the event at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, called the shot ”spectacular” as he congratulated Rahm with a fist bump at the 18th green.
Rahm, who won a US PGA event for the fourth year in a row, was given a two-stroke penalty after television slow-motion cameras showed his ball moved when he pushed down on the grass behind it shortly before his incredible chip, although it didn’t change the lie and was unperceptible to Rahm himself.
