PGA TOUR
US Open
Rahm's Historic US Open Victory
Jon Rahm is golf’s latest major winner. The 26-year-old became the first Spaniard to win the US Open after scoring a one-shot win over Louis Oosthuizen on a drama-filled final day at Torrey Pines. Rahm became just the fourth US Open champion to finish the event birdie, birdie at the final two holes after Ben Hogan (1953), Jack Nicklaus (1980) and Tom Watson (1982).
Rahm enjoys a special affiliation with Torrey Pines. He earned his first PGA Tour event at the site after winning the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open. He proposed to his wife Kelley on the grounds. And, now after victory at the 121st US Open on the South Course, he owns his maiden major title.
Rahm emerged victorious from a jam-packed leaderboard that included 10 players within one shot of the lead mid-way through Sunday. The world No. 3 started the final day three shots behind 54-hole leaders Louis Oosthuizen, MacKenzie Hughes and Russell Henley. He made a fast start with back-to-back birdies at the opening two holes. And, then followed his only bogey for the day at the 4th hole with another birdie at the par 5, 9th hole. Rahm covered the front nine in 2-under. He was the only player in the final six twosomes not to have a bogey on the back nine. He closed with a 4-under 67 and the equal-best low final round. Rahm finished the tournament at 6-under.
Joint 54-hole leader Oosthuizen was looking for his second major title after winning The Open Championship in 2010 at St Andrews. The 38-year-old South African entered the event with form on the back of his T2 finish behind Phil Mickelson at the PGA Championship last month. The world No. 18, who was trying to become the 20th player in history to win a US Open and The Open Championship, held a two-shot lead over five players with a 28-foot birdie putt at the 10th hole. His lead narrowed to one shot over Rahm with a bogey at the 11th hole. Oosthuizen then reeled off five consecutive pars. However, he fell one back from Rahm when the Spaniard closed out his round with back-to-back birdies at the 71st and 72nd holes. Oosthuizen’s hope to become the fourth player from South Africa to win the US Open behind Gary Player, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen ended when he found the penalty area after driving left off the tee on the 17th hole. The unforced error led to a bogey. He needed to make an eagle at the final hole to force a playoff with Rahm. Oosthuizen birdied the 72nd hole to finish one shot behind Rahm at 5-under and in outright second place. It was his sixth runner up result at a major championship. Oosthuizen remains winless on US soil.
Henley and Hughes, who shared the third round lead with Oosthuizen, lost ground to the field with disappointing final round scores. Henley, who enjoyed the co-lead after each of the first three rounds, posted a 5-over 76 to drop to a tie for 13th place. The 32-year-old American has not recorded a top 10 finish from his 27 major starts. Hughes, who was the first Canadian to hold a share of the 54-hole lead at the US Open, signed for a 6-over 77. The 30-year-old fell back to a tie for 15th place.
Harris English jumped a large group of players to finish outright third at 3-under for the event after producing a stunning 3-under 68. The 31-year-old American backed up his strong showing at the 2020 US Open when he finished 4th at Winged Foot.
Italy’s Guido Migliozzi plus America’s Brooks Koepka and Collin Morikawa shared 4th place at 2-under. Migliozzi, aged 24, will earn a start at next year’s Masters after closing with a 3-under 68. This was his first start at a major. Koepka, who owns four major titles, carded a final round 2-under 69 to score his 11th top 5 result at a major. Morikawa produced a 1-under 70 for his best finish at the US Open.
Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau was one of the big stories on Sunday. The 27-year-old American was looking to join Koepka and Curtis Strange as the only back-to-back US Open winners in the last 50 years. DeChambeau claimed the solo lead after a near ace at the par 3, 8th hole. Then things turned nasty as the world No. 5 dropped eight shots to cover the inward nine in 44 shots. The disastrous tally included a quadruple-bogey 8 at the 17th hole—the worst score on that hole all week. DeChambeau, who entered the back nine with a one shot lead, finished nine shots behind Rahm and in a tie for 26th place.
With the win, Rahm collected his sixth PGA Tour title. He was forced to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament two weeks ago after holding a six-shot lead go into the final round due to returning a positive COVID-19 test.
The PGA Tour moves to TPC River Highlands for the Travelers Championship. Dustin Johnson is the defending champion.
Final Scores
US Open
1. Jon Rahm -6
2. Louis Oosthuizen -5
3. Harris English -3
T4. Guido Migliozzi -2
T4. Brooks Koepka -2
T4. Collin Morikawa -2
T7. Branden Grace -1
T7. Daniel Berger -1
T7. Paul Casey -1
T7. Xander Schauffele -1
T7. Scottie Scheffler -1
T7. Rory McIlroy -1
Australians
T35. Adam Scott +5
T40. Wade Ormsby +6
64. Marc Leishman +12
T65. Matt Jones +13
MC. Cameron Smith
MC. Brad Kennedy
MC. Steve Allan
Photo credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
