Rahm wins Memorial, rises to No. 1 in world

DUBLIN, Ohio — Jon Rahm won the Memorial to join Seve Ballesteros as the only Spaniards to reach No. 1 in the world, a victory he finally wrapped up with a magical shot that would have made his idol proud.

Rahm built an eight-shot lead at the turn, only to see it reduced to three shots with three holes to play Sunday on a Muirfield Village course playing its toughest in 42 years.

In trouble behind the green on thepar-316th,withryanpalmer facing a 12-foot birdie putt from the fringe, Rahm hit a flop shot from deep grass that came out perfectly. It landed on the fringe, ran toward the hole and dropped for birdie as the fiery Spaniard let out a ferocious fist pump.

Palmer took bogey on the 17th, andthecoronationwason.

The only issue was the score. Replay of Rahm’s chip appeared to show the ball moved ever so slightly when he placed his lob wedge behind it. PGA Tour officials reviewed it and gave him a twoshot penalty. It didn’t affect the outcome.

Rahmwassurprisedwhenitwas mentioned to him after he finished and said he didn’t realize anything was wrong.

“It doesn’t take anything from the shot,” he said. “It’s not going to take anything away from today.”

Rahm closed with a 3-over 75 for a three-shot victory over Palmer (74), the highest final round by a Memorial winner since Roger Maltbie shot 76 in the inaugural year in 1976. Rahm finished at 9-under 279.

The victory was Rahm’s career fourth on the PGA Tour and moves him past Rory Mcilroy in the world ranking by winning against the strongest field of the year.

Tiger Woods, in his first competition since Feb. 16 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, shot 76 and tied for 40th.