GRITTY RAHM PREVAILS
Spaniard outlasts Landry to win at La Quinta in playoff
LOS ANGELES
SPAIN’S Jon Rahm birdied the fourth playoff hole to beat Andrew Landry and capture his second US PGA Tour title at the CareerBuilder Challenge in California on Sunday.
Rahm, had five birdies in his bogey-free five-under 67 on the Stadium Course in La Quinta to seize the clubhouse lead on 22under par 266.
But Landry, seeking a first PGA Tour title, rolled in an 11-foot birdie putt at the 72nd hole to cap a four-under 68 and force the playoff.
Both players parred the first three playoff holes — although each had birdie chances to win.
Rahm finally broke through when they returned to the 18th for the third time in the playoff. After finding the fairway at each of the first three playoff holes he was in the right rough, but still reached the green in two.
After he rolled in his birdie putt, Landry missed his from a similar distance on the other side of the hole.
“It’s an amazing feeling ... to play the way I did and give myself a chance,” said the 23-year-old Rahm.
“Obviously props to Andrew. To birdie 18 from the right rough, having to birdie it, that’s a heck of an accomplishment.
“Either one of us would have been a deserving champion,” added Rahm, who defends his first PGA Tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on Thursday.
“I never thought I was going to be at this point in my life right now,” he said, adding that it was “hard to believe” that he would move past three-time Major winner Jordan Spieth into second place in the world rankings led by American Dustin Johnson.
Meanwhile, England's Tommy Fleetwood played flawless golf in gusting winds to successfully defend his title at the US$3 million (RM11.8 million) Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday.
At the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, the 27-year-old Englishman, who is the current Order of Merit champion on the European Tour, shot a seven-under par 65 round — with six of his birdies coming on the back nine in difficult conditions — to beat compatriot Ross Fisher by two shots. AFP