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A18 SPORTS
Monday 30 January 2017

Ole! Jon Rahm breaks through with thrilling back 9 at Torrey

DOUG FERGUSON his celebration, and said, “I to start the new year now And when he turned pro the Masters for the first
AP Golf Writer don’t even remember do- have been won by players last summer, he earned his time, along with other big
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jon ing it.” in their 20s — Justin Thomas PGA Tour in four starts, ty- events. He moves into top
Rahm of Spain added his On a day in which nine (23) won both event in Ha- ing for third in the Quicken 50 in the world, and if he
name to the burgeoning list can stay there for three
of young stars Sunday with weeks he will get into two
his big game and a big fin- World Golf Championships
ish at Torrey Pines. in March.
Rahm made two eagles Snedeker was trying to be-
over the final six holes, the come only the fourth back-
last one a 60-foot putt from to-back winner at Torrey
the back fringe on the par- Pines, but he was slowed
5 18th hole for a 5-under by a pair of bogeys in a
67 to win the Farmers Insur- five-hole stretch around
ance Open by three shots the turn and closed with
for his first PGA Tour victory. a 73. Rodgers was tied for
Rahm, who turned 22 in the lead until he made
November, beat Phil Mick- bogey from the bunker on
elson’s mark as the young- the tough par-4 12th, and
est champion at this tour- then fell back when his
nament. He also became approach from the rough
the first player in 26 years on the 14th hole came
to capture his first PGA Tour out too high and struck a
title at Torrey Pines. tree, leading to bogey. He
Starting the final round Jon Rahm, of Spain, lies on the green of the 18th hole after winning the Farmers Insurance Open closed with a 72 and tied
three shots out of the lead, golf tournament Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. for fourth.
Rahm made up ground in Associated Press Howell closed with a 68. It
a hurry. was his third time to finish
He hit 4-iron into 18 feet on players had at least a share waii, and Hudson Swafford Loans National at Congres- runner-up at Torrey Pines.
the par-5 13th and holed of the lead, the final 20 min- (29) won last week in the sional and finishing runner- He made a long eagle putt
the eagle putt to tie for the utes only mattered for posi- California desert. up by one shot at the Ca- on the 13th and finished
lead. He stuffed a wedge tions. Rahm might have won for nadian Open. with a birdie. By then, how-
into 5 feet on the 17th to Rahm finished at 13-under the first time, though this Mickelson knew it was com- ever, Rahm was one shot
take the lead, and he fin- 275, three shots ahead of was hardly a surprise. ing. His brother, Tim Mickel- ahead and waiting in the
ished with his long eagle Charles Howell III (68) and He won the Ben Hogan son, was Rahm’s coach at middle of the 18th fairway.
putt that broke hard to the C.T. Pan of Taiwan, who Award his final two years Arizona State and now is his Pan ran off three straight
right and peeled back to had a 70. at Arizona State as the top agent. birdies around the turn to
the left and dropped in on Brandt Snedeker and Pat- college player, along with “I think he’s more than just tie for the lead, but he had
the side of the cup. rick Rodgers, tied for the the Jack Nicklaus Award a good young player,” to settle for pars the rest of
Rahm, leaning forward dur- lead going into the final his senior year as the best Mickelson said. “I think he’s the way, including a three-
ing its 60-foot journey to the round, fell back with too golfer. He spent 60 weeks one of the top players in putt par on the 13th.
hole, unleashed a double many mistakes on the back at the No. 1 amateur in the the world. That set the stage for Rahm,
fist pump as he hugged his nine. world. Two years ago in I think there’s an intangi- and he burst through.
caddie. The way Rahm finished, it the Phoenix Open, he tied ble that some guys have He became only the fourth
He watched a replay of the might not have mattered. for fifth while still at Arizona where they want to have international player to win
last eagle putt, along with All four PGA Tour events State. the pressure, they want to this tournament, but it’s an
be in that tough position, impressive list — Jason Day
they want to have every- two years ago, Gary Player
thing fall on their shoulders. in 1963 and his fellow Span-
And he has that.” iard, Jose Maria Olazabal,
The victory gets Rahm into in 2002.q