Rahm completes wire-to-wire win at Mexico Open
Claims first title since ’21 U.S. Open
NUEVO VALLARTA, Mexico — Jon Rahm could have done without the stress he faced over the final two hours in the Mexico Open. It still was worth it to pick up his first victory since the U.S. Open last summer.
Rahm rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-5 14th hole to pull out of a fourway tie for the lead, and he had to make two tough pars and a finish more nervy than he expected.
The relief and satisfaction were evident when he tapped in for par on the final hole at Vidanta Vallarta for a oneshot victory. He pumped his arm and then pounded his fist downward, looked skyward and exhaled.
“Today was a battle,” Rahm said. “But I got it done.”
Tony Finau and Brandon Wu each closed with a 63, while UNLV alum Kurt Kitayama birdied the final hole from a back bunker for a 68. They tied for second.
It is the best career finish on the PGA Tour for Kitayama, who tied for third earlier this year at the Honda Classic.
Against one of the weaker fields of the year — Rahm at No. 2 was the only player from the top 15 in the world — Rahm was a heavy favorite and he played that way from his opening 64. He just didn’t feel any expectations.
“I like to think every time I tee it up I’m a favorite. I play to win,” Rahm said. “Fortunately, I got my seventh PGA Tour win. It was a pretty stressful weekend, all the way to the end.”
Staked to a two-shot lead going into the final round, he never trailed. But it was never easy.
“It wasn’t my best putting weekend, but I stayed aggressive. I was confident in what I was doing. I have faith in every part of my game and it showed.”
Davis Riley was alone in fifth, while Las Vegan David Lipsky shot a final-round 64 to join a group of four players at 14 under in a tie for sixth.
Rahm has 14 victories worldwide. He had gone 17 starts without winning, matching the longest such in his career. He has at least one victory every season in six full years as a pro.
■ LPGA: Marina Alex won for the second time on tour, claiming the inaugural Palos Verdes Championship by one shot over world No. 1 Jin Young Ko.
Alex birdied the 16th hole to break a tie, then parred the final two for a 5-under 66 and a 10-under 274 total at windy Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates, California. Ko also shot 66 in the final round.
“The hard work has paid off,” said Alex, the 31-year-old from New Jersey who recently fought a herniated disk in her lower back. “I wasn’t sure if this would ever happen again if I’m being perfectly honest. It’s been tough. We’re all getting older. I’m getting older. There are so many amazing players out here. The competition is really, really difficult.”
Megan Khang (68) and Lydia Ko (70) were another shot back at 8 under. Hannah Green, who led each of the first three days, shot her second straight 72 to drop into a tie for fifth at 7 under with Ryann O’toole (68), Andrea Lee (69) and Annie Park (69).
■ Champions: At The Woodlands, Texas, Steven Alker won his second consecutive senior title, closing with a 6-under 66 for a four-shot victory over Steve Stricker and Brandt Jobe at the Insperity Invitational. After a two-hour rain delay, Alker went 6 under over a six-hole stretch to put the tournament away.
■ DP World: At Girona, Spain, Adri Arnaus made up a seven-shot deficit to catch leader Oliver Bekker, then beat him in a six-hole playoff at the Catalyunya Championship.