Jon Rahm looked and felt competitive again in a major at Royal Portrush. The Dunluce Links demanded patience, flight control and total discipline from the tee, and the Spaniard delivered a performance that built momentum as the week went on, finishing the 153rd Open Championship at 3-under par (281) in a tie for 34th. Crucially, he signed for two sub-par rounds over the weekend, moving up the board on both Saturday and Sunday.
Round 1 (Thursday): 70 (-1), a steady opening
Rahm opened with a 70, managing the ever-changing links conditions well. He settled quickly into the championship, staying within touching distance of the leading positions, even if Portrush made its usual point: on a links, there are no free shots—every small mistake tends to leave a difficult recovery.
Round 2 (Friday): 72 (+1), the day that slowed his momentum
Friday was the pivot in his week. A 72 left Rahm level par through 36 holes, and with the feeling he had let a few opportunities slip. It was a day of grinding more than he would have liked, without quite finding a stretch of comfortable holes to really attack the score—something that, at The Open, usually means losing ground to the leaders.
Round 3 (Saturday): 69 (-2), the response and back into red numbers
The reaction came on moving day. Rahm posted a 69, rediscovered his rhythm and moved back into under-par territory, with a far more complete feel to his game: better control, improved positions off the tee and a more assertive approach when the course allowed it. It wasn’t the kind of surge that suddenly puts you in the final groups, but it was the type of round that defines a championship week—finding performance when the title chase has become complicated.
Round 4 (Sunday): 70 (-1), closing with composure
Another solid card on Sunday: 70 to confirm a weekend in the red and to leave The Open with positive momentum. On a major stage—and especially on a links like Portrush—finishing by pushing hard to the final hole is a clear sign of competitiveness. It may not always translate into a top-10, but it helps build what comes next.
The takeaway: a positive end to the major season
The Open at Portrush closed Rahm’s 2025 major season with a clear message: he’s still right there. He arrived after a PGA Championship in which he was again in the mix during the week, and The Open delivered another encouraging sign: when his ball control and decision-making are sharp, his game fits perfectly on the toughest, most demanding stages in golf.