Among the most familiar refrains heard on the PGA Tour is how difficult it can be playing with a lead on Sunday, finding the balance between being aggressive and being careful.
For Jon Rahm at the Mexico Open at Vidanta, an extra layer of expectation was applied because the No. 2-ranked player in the world arrived as the heavy favorite to win against a field that was short on top-100 players but long on opportunity.
Rahm put all of that on his broad shoulders and held at least a share of the lead after all four rounds as he won his seventh PGA Tour event, edging Brandon Wu, Tony Finau and Kurt Kitayama by one stroke.
It was Rahm’s first victory since he captured the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines last June and climbed to No. 1 in the world. Though Scottie Scheffler has taken over the top spot in the rankings, Rahm has remained a factor virtually every week he has played despite a putter that has run hot and cold.
He finished second in the Sentry Tournament of Champions, tied for third in the Farmers Insurance Open and tied for ninth in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
Looking ahead a few weeks, Rahm looms as the betting favorite as the year’s second major championship approaches with the PGA at Southern Hills.
“In the past I’ve given myself a chance to win and been able to do it early,” Rahm said. “This year got close a couple of times early, but not since. I kept working hard when the results weren’t coming.
“I knew I was improving. I was seeing the results, and this proved it.”
Paired with Tiger Woods in the final round at the Masters, Rahm adjusted his approach. He had found himself getting too wrapped up in mechanics rather than trusting his athleticism. Playing with Woods, Rahm made a conscious adjustment.
“That Sunday at Augusta with Tiger helped me,” Rahm said. “I decided to just go out there and hit the ball. I shot 3-under par without my best stuff.
“I did the same thing this week, getting back to my true self.”
Rahm, who called his play Thursday and Friday “amazing,” wasn’t as sharp on Sunday but took pride in how he ground it out at the end. With his 1-year-old son Kepa greenside on the 72nd hole, Rahm admitted his mind wandered to seeing his son come to celebrate before he two-putted for the victory.
“It was cool,” said Rahm, whose wife, Kelley, is expecting their second child later this year. “I could only think I better two-putt this to make sure we enjoy this moment. I was hoping to get the moment of him running to me, but I think he got overwhelmed.
“It’s a lot more fun and a lot more meaningful when they are here.”
Ron Green Jr.