Rahm wins; Tiger plays 72
LOS ANGELES — Jon Rahm returned to No. 1 in the world Sunday by winning the Genesis Invitational with a performance that left no doubt who’s playing the best golf.
Caught in a battle with hometown favorite Max Homa at Riviera, Rahm delivered two big moments with a 45-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the par-3 14th and then a tee shot to 2 feet for birdie on the par-3 16th. He closed with a 2-under 69 for a twoshot win over Homa.
“Pretty incredible,” Rahm said. “[To win] at a golf course with this legacy, this history and hosted by Tiger Woods is such an honor.”
Rahm has five wins in his last nine starts worldwide and three in five starts on the PGA Tour this year. He has earned more than $9 million the last two months.
Patrick Cantlay got within one shot on the back nine until two bogeys. He had a 67 to finish alone in third, moving him to No. 4 in the world.
After dazzling the crowd Saturday and jumping up 32 spots on the leaderboard, Woods had four bogeys in an eight-hole stretch and shot 73 to tie for 45th.
“Unfortunately, my streak continues,” Woods said with a smile, alluding to his 12 pro appearances at Riviera, where he made his PGA Tour debut, without winning. His success was measured in progress. It was his first time playing 72 holes since the Masters last April. Woods only played twice since then as he tries to cope with leg and back injuries that will make Tour appearances rare. He did not know if he would play again before the Masters.
“It was progress, but obviously I didn’t win,” said Woods, a 15-time major champion. “I felt like the first couple days I left certainly a lot of shots out there with some putts, especially Friday when I was blocking everything. Yesterday was better.”
Woods still had the largest gallery all the way to the end. Thousands of fans packed on the hill over the 18th green to watch him close out with a par in that familiar red shirt under a black vest.