Rahm contends at Colonial
FORT WORTH, Texas — Jon Rahm was at Colonial Country Club during tournament week each of the past two years to accept the Ben Hogan Award, which goes to the nation’s top college golfer. This time, he’s playing in the PGA Tour event at Hogan’s Alley and was among the contenders with one round of the Dean & Deluca Invitational complete.
With his 4-under-par 66 on Thursday, Rahm was a stroke behind co-leaders Derek Fathauer, Kelly Kraft and J.T. Poston, a PGA Tour rookie.
Rahm was a shot ahead of two-time tournament champions Zach Johnson and Phil Mickelson after each birdied his last three holes. He also led 2016 winner Jordan Spieth, whose par round included six birdies.
“The last two times I was here, all I recorded was super happy and positive memories,” Rahm said. “It’s just the vibe that I have around this place is so positive, especially with Sergio (Garcia) winning and with the Ben Hogan history that I’m related to now.”
The 22-year-old Rahm, who earned his first and only PGA Tour victory at Torrey Pines in January, had only one bogey while playing with 2017 Masters champion Garcia, a fellow Spaniard who won during his first Colonial appearance in 2001.
Kraft and Graeme McDowell, tied with Rahm for fourth, had the only bogey-free rounds. Only 33 of the 121 players finished the first round under par. Scott Brown had the other 66, and he had the outright lead at 6 under before a double bogey at No. 18.
Spieth, coming off missed cuts the past two weeks, was tied for 34th after carding six birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey. He made birdies on his last two holes.
“It’s a great finish. Kept me in the tournament,” Spieth said. “If I was a couple over, you know, in the back of my mind I would be wondering about the cut line.”