Jon Rahm won. He won again. Yes. Again, in Ireland. Twice in three years. He’s repeated history before a crowd who adores him, and which he took with him today to cloud nine after an exceptional Sunday.
The golfer from Barrika shot an astounding 62 in the last round of the DDF Irish Open, and claimed the title. The extraordinary unfolding of events on the Old Course at the Lahinch Golf Club, in Clare county, was truly epic.
The wise fans gathered round and rubbed their eyes for a double take in Jon’s game, because they knew they were witnessing something special. Jon started out five shots away from the leader, and ended up winning with a two-shot advantage after a round in which he made nine birdies and a bogey. Monumental.
The Sunday session had three key moments. The first was on the 12th hole. Jon made a tremendous second shot, hitting the green, and sinking the eagle putt from more than ten meters away, placing him at just one shot from the one who called the shots in the rankings up to that point, Rafa Cabrera Bello.
The second moment happened on the 15th hole. His tee shot landed in the rough, and he had a difficult shot to make to green. Additionally, this hole is one of the toughest on the entire course. Jon had to play it. And he played it. Powerful. Stratospheric. A fantastic missile of a shot which ended up landing just one meter away from the hole, with the birdie practically in the bag. That’s where he took the lead. The third crucial moment was on the 17th hole, when the round was coming to an end. There was still the final stretch left to play. He made a birdie and sent a clear message to everyone. It was Jon Rahm’s tournament. With his determination and conviction. With his bravery. Backed by a superb game and a sublime putt.
Rahm has taken the throne in Ireland, once again. It’s his fourth win in the European Tour, third in a Rolex Series. Nobody has won in a Rolex Series tournament that many times in the European Tour. And, to top it all off, at just 24 years old, he’s become the youngest European golfer to reach four wins in the Tour in the last 40 years. Legendary stats. And his career is just getting started.
What’s more, with this win, he is now first in the Race to Dubai, and is back in the top ten of the world rankings. Now, it’s time to rest this week. Jon will be in London, with a few promotional engagements and while he’s there, he’ll take advantage to do some sightseeing and to go to Wimbledon. Next week is the last Major of the season, and he needs to charge up. It’s the Open Championship. By the way, also in Ireland…