Dramatic Late Rally Delivers Rahm Maiden Major

San Diego, United States: Jon Rahm hammered home the most memorable 24-foot birdie putt of his young career to secure the fiery Spaniard a one-stroke victory over Louis Oosthuizen in the 121st US Open Championship.

On a cool, overcast Sunday, Rahm carded a four-under-par 67 to match the championship’s lowest round. The 26-year-old became the first player from Spain to win any USGA championship. It also was his second title on the South Course at Torrey Pines, a venue he has grown to love.

Torrey Pines was the site of his first PGA Tour victory in 2017 and where he later proposed to his college sweetheart, Kelley Cahill. It has been a whirlwind two weeks for Rahm, who had to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament with a six-stroke 54-hole lead on June 5 due to a positive Covid-19 test.

“I’m a big believer in karma,” said Rahm, who also rallied from a three-stroke deficit in the final round to win the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, capping that comeback with a dramatic 72nd-hole eagle.

“After what happened a couple of weeks ago, I stayed really positive knowing good things were coming. I didn’t know what it was going to be, but I knew we were coming to a special place, I knew I got [my] breakthrough [PGA Tour] win here and it’s a very special place for my family, and the fact that my parents were able to come, I got out of Covid protocol early, I just felt like the stars were aligning, and I knew my best golf was to come.

“I have a hard time explaining what just happened because I can’t even believe I made the last two putts, and I’m the first Spaniard ever to win a US Open. This was definitely for Seve [Ballesteros]. I know he tried a lot, and usually we think a lot about him at the Masters, but I know he wanted to win this one most of all. I just don’t know how to explain it.”

For Oosthuizen (71, 279), it was his sixth runner-up finish in a Major championship since winning the 2010 Open Championship at St Andrews, and second in the US Open (2015). Harris English finished three strokes back in third (281) after shooting a final-round 68.

Hideki Matsuyama saved his best for last with a three-under 68 to climb into a share of 26th place on 287, alongside fellow-Japanese Rikuya Hoshino.

Two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship winner Matsuyama created history in April when he won the Masters Tournament, becoming the first Japanese male Major champion.

Im Sung-jae’s hopes of mounting a final-day challenge subsided with a 76 that saw him drop to equal 35th on 289, one stroke ahead of Korean compatriot Kim Si-woo.