Rahm struggling to believe he's world number two

After winning the CareerBuilder Challenge, Jon Rahm is set to climb into second in the world rankings.

Published : Jan 22, 2018 08:41 IST

Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm
lightbox-info

Jon Rahm

Jon Rahm was shocked to be passing Jordan Spieth in the world rankings after his win at the CareerBuilder Challenge.

Rahm took the PGA Tour by storm last year, climbing up the world rankings after a number of strong finishes.

The 23-year-old Spaniard won the CareerBuilder Challenge on Sunday, outlasting Andrew Landry in a four-hole play-off.

With the win, Rahm moves to number two, going past Spieth.

"It's hard to believe, to be honest, passing Jordan Spieth, three-time major champion, I only have two wins, he's got 10-plus, right?" Rahm said. 

"It's, again, I said it many times, I never thought I was going to be at this point in my life right now, especially the way I won both victories, it couldn't be anymore different than the other."

Rahm now has two PGA Tour victories after capturing last season's Farmers Insurance Open, where he will next week try to defend his title.

"It's an incredible feeling [having multiple Tour wins]," Rahm said. 

"I had a good feeling going into today and to play the way I did and gave myself a chance, obviously props to Andrew, to birdie 18 from the right rough, having to birdie it, it's, I mean it's a heck of an accomplishment.

"To follow-up a shot that ended up one foot away, had a makeable birdie putt every time, it's amazing that he kept up and one of us had to do it and either one of us would have been a well-deserving champion. So I would say congrats to him. It's hard to explain what this means right now."

The PGA Tour has already seen two play-off finishes this year. Patton Kizzire won in six play-off holes last week at the Sony Open, and Rahm prevailed Sunday in four.

Though he was pleased with the win, Rahm was hoping for less stress this weekend.

"I just always hoped I would go through my career without having to deal with a play-off," he said. 

"To be honest, yeah, it's been a fighting day, I've been a ball striking clinic most of the week and in the play-off I was just not making the putts. I was just scared that Andrew was going to take the lead hand and make the putt.

"I just got fortunate that none of us really made any and I was able to make the one that mattered. But then again, it was really supreme ball striking on my part today. Especially on the back nine I hit the ball as good as I can, didn't miss many shots. I'm excited it happened the way it did because it's going to make me be a better player."

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment