Jon may well be the one for Rory
CONFIDENT: Jon Rahm PHIL GIRVAN HAVING persuaded Jon Rahm to enter his event, Rory McIlroy could end the week by handing him the trophy after the Spaniard took a share of the lead in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
Rahm, who outscored McIlroy by 13 shots over the first two days, carded a third round of 67 to finish 17 under par, a total matched by American Daniel Im.
The world No.11 fired six birdies and a solitary bogey, four of the birdies coming in succession from the 11th.
Since becoming a professional just over a year ago, Rahm has claimed his first PGA Tour title and put in some impressive performances.
And he now has the chance of following in the footsteps of fellow countrymen Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia in winning the Irish Open.
“It could be a very special day,” said Rahm.
“This tournament has a good Spanish history and it would be great to join that.
“I’ve never led going into the final round so I am inexperienced in that sense, but I know what I did at Torrey Pines, both good and bad.
“I have exceeded my expectations massively.”
Rahm, 22, added: “Before I won at Torrey Pines this was not a possibility.
“The only chance to come and play would be to be invited. Winning that tournament meant I was able to come here and pick and choose events. So to achieve a goal that was not even in my mind at the start of the year would be very special.”
Olympic champion Justin Rose was part of a four-strong group on 13 under after a bogey-free 66 which was amazingly compiled despite hitting just one fairway.
“To go bogey-free on a day when you don’t really have your best golf is exactly what I need at this point,” Rose said.
“It’s really sharpened up my short game this week.
“Ahead of the Open Championship at Birkdale I’ve certainly tested myself but I’ve come through so far strongly this week and it would be nice to start ironing out a few other tweaks and I’ll be feeling pretty good about things.” OFF-ROAD: Froome
His title t a keover dreams turned into a nightmare when, because of a gearbox- change penalty, he was hit with a five-place demotion on the grid for the start of the 190-mile chase around the Red Bull Ring where he clinched a hat-trick last year with a win from pole and the fastest lap.
His problems got even worse yesterday when he could only manage third f astest in qualifying, slightly adrift of his Mercedes t eam- mate Valtteri Bottas and title rival Sebastian Vettel.
That means he will start from eighth place for the demanding 71-lap grand prix.
The treble-champ will have to delve deeply into his genius to catch and pass Vettel and gain revenge for their feud last time out in Azerbaijan to grab career win No.57 in his 196th race and cut into the German’s 14-point title advantage. And he is up for the task. He hit spectacular form in free practice and he blitzed the lap TED MACAULEY record. And despite having to drop back to row four for the race start, he is bursting with optimism for a thriller of a battle.
Hamilton said: “The car feels fantastic. Really quick. It is well-suited for this track. I love the place and I can promise I’ll be giving it my all.
“I did the best job I could in qualifying but Valtteri and Seb were both very fast. I was happy to have finished third but I would have loved to improve my lap and got on to the top spot but it was not meant to be.
“We ’ v e g o t some upgrades on the car. It has all the makings of a winner. And even though I am starting well back in the field I am up for the fight. I don’t know any other way to race.”
It was team-mate Bottas’s second pole – and it was a close call.
The Finn clocked 1min 04.251secs compared with Ve t t e l ’ s 1 min 04.293secs and Hammy’s 1min 04.424secs.
Bottas said: “My car just got better and better and I am really excited to be on pole. But with Lewis coming from where he is on the grid – and he never, ever gives up – it is going to one mega spectacle.”
Hammy added: “I am disappointed but it was not meant to be. It’ll be tough but I’ve got the car for the job. Let’s see how it plays
out.”