Top spot in world in sights of Rahm
DUBLIN, Ohio — Jon Rahm showed Saturday in the Memorial why he’s one of the most explosive players in golf.
A back nine that capped off what he considers one of the best rounds of his career gave Rahm a 4-under
68, turned a four-shot deficit into a four-shot lead, and put the 25-year-old Spaniard on the verge of reaching No. 1 in the world.
“Today could be one of the best rounds of golf I’ve played in my life,” said Rahm, a tribute to Muirfield Village getting so close to the edge it drew comparisons with
a major. “And it’s hard to believe how passively it came, compared to how I played usually.”
His passion is so great it can hurt as much as it helps. On this day, Rahm kept his cool. He watched Tony Finau reach the par-5 11 in two for a sure birdie that would leave the Spaniard four shots behind.
There was no panic. Rahm said he told his caddie on the 13th tee, “If we can finish the last six holes under par, it’s a great finish. And whatever we have to do to make a comeback, we’ll make a comeback.”
Rahm turned in four consecutive birdies.
With help from Finau and his two double bogeys, and Ryan Palmer with bogeys on two of his last three holes, that turned into a four-shot lead for Rahm.
A victory allows him to join Seve Ballesteros as the only Spaniards to reach No. 1, provided that Rory McIlroy doesn’t finish as a runner-up. McIlroy shot 72 — not a bad effort on a day where the average score was 73.7 — and was 10 shots back.
“I’ve got to play solid again and get the job done and think about the No. 1 afterwards,” Rahm said.
Rahm was at 12-under 204 as he goes for his fourth PGA Tour victory, and 10th worldwide. Finau and Palmer, each with a 73, were four behind. Former Masters champion Danny Willett (70) is next in line at six shots back.
Finau was bogey-free on the front nine, poured in a 50foot birdie putt, then easily reached the green on the par5 11th for a two-putt birdie to reach 12 under.
One swing changed everything.
Finau’s tee shot on the par-3 12th in a swirling wind sailed 15 yards over the green, leaving a downhill chip from thick rough to a green that was yellow and ran toward the water. He left it short, chipped through the green and made double bogey. Finau took another double bogey on the 17th hole with an awkward lie in the rough.
“It was good, and then it wasn’t good,” Finau said. “Man, this golf course can get you in a heartbeat. You just try and put your best foot forward every hole, every shot, and try and play as well as you can. The greens are firm. There’s enough wind up there to think about. They’re fast. A little disappointed in my finish, but look, I’m in a good position going into tomorrow.”
Muirfield Village is rebuilding all the greens starting Monday, and tournament officials are not afraid to let the course go to the very edge for the strongest field of the year.
It wasn’t easy to get shots close. It wasn’t easy to hole putts. It wasn’t easy to do anything.
It was the highest average score for the third round at the Memorial since 2012, the last year Tiger Woods won.
There won’t be a repeat of that. Woods said he felt better and he played better, posting a 71. He is 14 shots behind at 2 over.