The Official World Golf Ratings components may say that Rory McIlroy remains to be the No. 1 participant on the earth, however theres little query as to who has been one of the best participant on the course in the course of the previous 4 months.
Spains Jon Rahm gained once more on Sunday on the American Specific in La Quinta, California. It was his second straight victory and fourth win in his previous six worldwide begins (he tied for second on the BMW PGA Championship in September and tied for fourth on the CJ Cup at South Carolina in October). In actual fact, Rahm has gained every of his previous three worldwide begins in official occasions — DP World Tour Championship, Sentry Event of Champions and the American Specific.
Someway, Rahms newest victory will transfer him solely from fourth to 3rd on the earth rankings. Rahm has expressed his frustration that beneath the brand new OWGR components, his wins on the limited-fields Sentry Event of Champions and DP World Tour Championship in November do not carry as a lot weight as his others.
Regardless, if Rahm retains his torrid tempo, hell catch McIlroy quickly.
In my thoughts, I really feel like I can get loads higher, Rahm stated. I really feel like that is the mentality I ought to have. Once more, I work very onerous to do what I do. I may discover errors in each single spherical Ive performed. Only a few occasions I might say Ive performed a flawless spherical.
Whats even scarier for Rahms opponents is that the PGA Tours subsequent cease is the Farmers Insurance coverage Open at Torrey Pines, the place he grew to become the primary Spanish participant to win the U.S. Open in 2021.
Here is what occurred in skilled golf this weekend:
What occurred on the PGA Tour
The American Specific
The place: LaQuinta Nation Membership, LaQuinta, California
Winner: Jon Rahm
Why he gained: Rahm, the most well liked participant on the planet, obtained all he needed from PGA Tour rookie Davis Thompson, who was proper in it till his putt on the par-3 seventeenth inexplicably hit the flagstick and lipped out. On the par-4 18th, Thompson mishit his strategy shot, which ended up over the inexperienced. Rahm took the lead with a birdie on the sixteenth and carded pars on the final two holes to complete 27 beneath, which was 1 stroke higher than Thompson.
The putts werent falling like that they had been within the first three rounds for Rahm, however he did sufficient to select up his second straight victory. Rahm is a staggering 54 beneath in eight rounds for the reason that begin of 2023. Based on analysis by ESPN Stats & Data, it was his third profession end at 27 beneath or higher, which is probably the most in PGA Tour historical past.
Physiques been feeling nice, Rahm stated. My swings been feeling actually, actually good and it exhibits, proper? Even after Im saying I might not be as snug as I would really like, I am taking pictures 64s as a result of all the pieces is simply firing when it must. I am, in a bizarre means, glad that right this moment went the best way it went. Ive loved some runaway victories, Ive loved some comebacks, however right this moment was definitely a wrestle.
Rahm tied the late Seve Ballesteros for second-most victories by a Spanish participant on the PGA Tour with 9; Sergio Garcia has 11. Rahm moved to No. 1 within the FedEx Cup standings for the primary time in his profession.
What occurred on the LPGA Tour
Hilton Grand Holidays Event of Champions
The place: Lake Nona Golf & Nation Membership, Orlando, Florida
Winner: Brooke Henderson
Why she gained: A latest tools change did not decelerate Henderson, who picked up her thirteenth profession LPGA victory with a wire-to-wire win at Lake Nona. She carded a 2-under 70 on Sunday to defeat Englands Charley Hull and Swedens Maja Stark by 2 strokes. Nelly Korda shot even par on Sunday and completed fourth at 11 beneath.
The Canadian, who switched to TaylorMade previous to the season, hit 71% of fairways and 80% of greens in regulation over her 4 rounds. She was 9 beneath on the par-5s. She had 19 birdies. Henderson has produced 16 consecutive rounds of par or higher on the TOC and has simply three bogeys in her previous 108 holes at Lake Nona. Extra importantly, the again troubles that slowed her down on the finish of final season werent a problem. She could possibly be in retailer for a really massive season.
Beginning the season with a win! 🏆
Brooke Henderson wins the 2023 Hilton Grand Holidays Event of Champions! 👏 pic.twitter.com/SvKRSJnjTZ
— LPGA (@LPGA) January 22, 2023
Henderson stated she did not finalize which golf equipment had been going to be in her bag till a couple of week in the past. She delofted her new irons however was very snug with a brand new putter.
Truthfully, I believe all components of the sport had been working very well this week, which that does not all the time occur, so it was very nice to profit from that and have the ability to hoist this trophy, Henderson stated. Off the tee [on Sunday], perhaps the motive force wasnt pretty much as good as the remainder of the week, however it was nonetheless very constant. Ballstriking I gave myself a number of good birdie appears to be like, and particularly the primary three days made a number of putts.
Yeah, actually cannot complain about something. I am actually blissful I made the swap to TaylorMade, and hopefully the success simply continues.
Thompsons close to miss
Thompson, a former College of Georgia star, will most likely be serious about his unlucky break on the seventeenth gap on Sunday for some time. On Jan. 1, 2019, a brand new USGA rule took impact that permits gamers to depart the pin within the cup on putts. Earlier than that, hitting the flagstick with a ball from on the inexperienced resulted in a 2-stroke penalty. The rule change was carried out with the hope of rushing up play.
Thompson stated he often leaves the pin in on lengthy putts.
It is a merciless sport.
Davis Thompson was THIS near tying the lead on 17 @TheAmExGolf. pic.twitter.com/Ygj9MURRvJ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 22, 2023
I really feel prefer it helps me with my pace, Thompson stated. I am going to most likely play the what if sport in my head for a very long time, sadly. I had an excellent learn. I most likely hit it too agency. If it had nice pace it could have simply hit the flag and dropped, however well by no means know. I am happy with myself for this week.
It was a outstanding efficiency for Thompson, who was making solely his twentieth PGA Tour profession begin. Thompson twice reached No. 1 within the World Golf Beginner Rating and was SEC Participant of the 12 months in 2021. His father, Todd, was a former Georgia workforce captain and is the chief director of the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour and match director of the RSM Basic at Sea Island, Georgia.
Thompson, 23, gained as soon as on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022 and earned his PGA Tour card by ending sixteenth on the season-long factors checklist. He earned $872,000 for his second-place end on Sunday.
I had an excellent week, Thompson stated. Competing in opposition to one of the best on the earth is my dream and I did that right this moment and proved that I can hold with them. It was a number of enjoyable. A variety of nerves and I hit a number of high quality golf photographs beneath stress, which was actually cool.
Transferring up and down
Transferring up
Gamers who made strikes in the suitable path this week
Chris Kirk
Kirk, one other former Georgia participant, posted a front-nine 29 on Sunday and completed 8-under 64 to tie for third. He was solo third in his final begin on the Sony Open in Hawaii. It is the primary time he has recorded back-to-back top-fives since 2014.
Taylor Montgomery
A late double bogey on the par-3 seventeenth price him some cash, however the rookie from UNLV retains churning out top-10 finishes. It was his eighth top-15 end in his first 9 begins this season.
Erik van Rooyen
The South African participants 2021-22 season was derailed by accidents, after which he withdrew from the Houston Open in November after an opening-round 75. On Sunday, he fired a 10-under 62, matching his lowest spherical on tour. He tied for sixth at 23 beneath.
Robby Shelton
Shelton certified for the FedEx Cup playoffs as a rookie in 2019-20 however misplaced his card the subsequent season when he made simply 11 of 32 cuts. A tie for sixth on the American Specific ought to give him a great deal of confidence.
Transferring down
Gamers who made strikes within the unsuitable path this week
Lucas Glover
The 2009 U.S. Open missed the minimize, however not earlier than setting Twitter ablaze with a, properly, uncommon placing stroke on a 3-footer on Thursday.
Lucas new backstroke (or lack thereof) is…distinctive. pic.twitter.com/v92etmSx14
— Sam Harrop (@sam_golf) January 19, 2023
Patrick Cantlay
Cantlay had an opportunity to assert world No. 1 by profitable the American Specific, however he was by no means in rivalry and tied for twenty sixth at 18 beneath.
Rickie Fowler
Fowler, whose final PGA Tour victory got here almost 4 years in the past, has a brand new swing. Sadly, the outcomes this weekend had been acquainted. He tied for 54th at 13 beneath.
Better of the week
Greatest scorecard
In his thirty third profession begin on tour, Dylan Wu had a pleasant par save on No. 18 on Saturday to card an 11-under 61, which tied the Nicklaus Event Course report (additionally set by Will Zalatoris final yr). Wus earlier low was an 8-under 64 within the 2022 Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Spherical of the day on Transferring Day 👏 @Dylan_Wu59 ties @WillZalatoris course report on the Nicklaus Event Course with a 61 @TheAmexGolf. pic.twitter.com/tncZ7v1KqH
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 21, 2023
Greatest strategy
What unhealthy again? Xander Schauffeles albatross on the fifth gap on Sunday on the American Specific was the primary on the PGA Tour since Stephan Jaeger had one in the course of the last spherical of the 2022 John Deere Basic.
ALBATROSS FOR XANDER!@XSchauffele holes out from 225 yards to maneuver to 18-under @TheAmexGolf 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TLGu90jdIN
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 22, 2023
Greatest chip
Frances Victor Perez made this shot out of a bunker on No. 17 in Abu Dhabi on Sunday to assist choose up the largest victory of his profession. He grew to become the primary participant from France to win a Rolex Collection occasion and grow to be a reliable contender for a spot on the European workforce for the Ryder Cup.
Victor Perezs unimaginable bunker shot right this moment with French commentary 🇫🇷😂
🎤 by way of @GolfCanalPlus #ADGolfChamps | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/Ji5wi0VhKf
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 22, 2023
Greatest putt
Jason Day sank this bomb en path to carding a 5-under 67 Sunday to complete tied for 18th on the American Specific.
Good pace, good putt 💯 @JDayGolf drains it from distance @TheAmexGolf. pic.twitter.com/gpesLKFeha
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 22, 2023
Greatest rebound
The golf gods taketh. The golf gods giveth. South Koreas Seonghyeon Kim missed the minimize after this curler coaster of feelings in Fridays second spherical.
The craziest back-to-back holes you have ever seen 😳 pic.twitter.com/qZ1psGsgmc
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 21, 2023
Marriage ceremony images!
Extra images emerged from Justin Thomas marriage ceremony in Franklin, Tennessee, in November, when he married longtime girlfriend Jillian Wisniewski. There was reportedly a no-phone coverage on the ceremony, so there werent many images obtainable till Sunday.
NBC At present contributor Jason Kennedy, a detailed good friend of the couples, officiated the marriage and revealed a number of images to his Instagram account.
Greatest social media of the weekend
Tommy rulez
One thing unsuitable, Tyrrell?#GolfPsycho pic.twitter.com/b5aLorSLnE
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 20, 2023
Doing the Carlton
Chip in for eagle ✅
Dance with @alfonso_ribeiro ✅ @daniellekang | #HGVLPGA pic.twitter.com/xxz961POx0
— LPGA (@LPGA) January 19, 2023
Be like Tiger
The one technique to play as me, and my pals, is in PGA TOUR 2K23, obtainable now. #team2k pic.twitter.com/5lwCJ73o4v
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) January 20, 2023
One Tee Hill
💀💀💀💀💀
.@sacoomba you loopy for this onepic.twitter.com/DCG20VvE1A
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) January 18, 2023
Completely happy 83rd birthday to the Golden Bear
A real legend of the sport.
Completely happy 83rd birthday to @jacknicklaus! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/IeJhgS8i99
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) January 21, 2023