Rahm wins Careerbuilder Challenge in playoff
Spaniard’s 12-foot putt edges Landry
LA QUINTA, Calif. — Jon Rahm beat Andrew Landry with a 12-foot birdie putt on the fourth hole of a playoff Sunday in the Careerbuilder Challenge.
In fading light on the Stadium Course at PGA West, Rahm finished off Landry for his second PGA Tour title and fourth worldwide victory in a year. The 23-year-old Spaniard will jump from third to second in the world ranking behind Dustin Johnson.
“It’s hard to believe, to be honest, passing Jordan Spieth, three-time major champion,” Rahm said. “I only have two wins, and he’s got 10-plus, right? I never thought I was going to be at this point in my life right now.”
Rahm overcame par-5 problems in regulation to shoot 5-under 67. Landry forced the playoff with an 11-foot birdie putt on the water-guarded 18th for a 68. They finished at 22-under 266.
After Rahm made his birdie putt on the fourth playoff hole, Landry missed an 11-footer.
Rahm and Landry each missed chances to win on the first two extra trips down 18. Rahm’s 9-foot birdie try slid left on the first, and Landry’s 8-footer went by to the right on the second.
They missed long birdie tries on the third extra hole.
Rahm parred the four par 5s on Sunday, with the Pete Dye-designed layout playing tougher with many pin positions on the edges of greens, after going 13 under on 12 par 5s in the first three rounds with an eagle and 11 birdies.
■ At Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tommy Fleetwood ran off five birdies on the back nine and closed with a 7-under 65 to successfully defend his title in the HSBC Championship.
Fleetwood, who won the Race to Dubai last year on the European Tour, won by two shots over Ross Fisher.
Rory Mcilroy, playing for the first
European PGA:
time in more than three months, began the final round one shot out of the lead but managed only a 70 and tied for third with Matt Fitzpatrick.
Fleetwood, a 27-year-old from England, was five shots behind at the turn when he made his move. He finished at 22-under 266.
Dustin Johnson, the world No. 1 who was runner-up in Abu Dhabi last year, closed with a 70 and tied for ninth.
■ At Singapore, Masters champion Sergio Garcia began his 20th year as a pro by closing with a 3-under 68 for a five-shot victory at the Singapore Open.
Garcia won for the 28th time in his career and in his fourth Asian country.
Starting the final round of the rain-delayed event at Sentosa Golf Club, the Spaniard birdied his first hole, picked up two more birdies before the turn and made all pars on the back nine.
He won by five shots over Satoshi Kodaira (71) of Japan and Shaun Norris (70) of South Africa.
Jazz Janewattananond, a 22-yearold Thai, was among four players
Asian Tour:
who earned spots in the British Open. The others went to Danthai Boonma of Thailand, Lucas Herbert of Australia and American Sean Crocker.