Rahm, who had already been the leader of the world ranking between July 2021 and March 2022, took this distinction from the American Scottie Scheffler and raised the tenth title of his career, three of them in this brilliant start to the season.
“To reach this double-digit winning mark is incredible. And to do it on a course with this legacy, this history and hosted by Tiger Woods is a true honor. I really can’t explain it,” a beaming Rahm said upon leaving the Riviera Country Club.
With this victory, the Spaniard joins Woods himself and Justin Thomas as the only players in the last 40 years to win at least three of the first six tournaments they participate in in one season.
Rahm, winner in January in Hawaii and La Quinta (California), achieved this feat following coming out unscathed from a fast-paced one-on-one with the American Max Homa in the final round.
Halfway through the course, the Spaniard had lost the three-shot lead with which he started the day and was behind Homa when he committed one of his three bogeys on the 12th hole.
The American, the other fittest golfer at the moment also with two wins this year, had already won in 2021 at this course, which is located just 30 kilometers from his native Burbank.
But Homa didn’t take long to give air to Rahm with a bogey in the 13th and he might no more than close the round with pairs while the Spaniard holed a birdie from 14 meters in the 14th and sealed the victory with another in the 16th with a spectacular tee shot that left him less than a meter from the flag.
‘Rahmbo’, who has a Grand Slam title to his credit (the 2021 United States Open), finished the tour with 69 strokes, two under par, and an accumulated 267 (-17), with a two-under-par lead over Homa and three on the also American Patrick Cantlay.
Scheffler finished in twelfth place (-8) and handed over the PGA number one following holding it only since last week, when he took it from Rory McIlroy at the Phoenix Open.
“It’s the right address”
Ahead of Rahm and Homa’s final battle for the trophy and $3.6 million prize, Riviera Country Club fans said a big farewell to their idol Tiger Woods, who finished 45th (-1).
The star lowered the level compared to his brilliant third round and signed a final card of 73 shots (+1) but was satisfied with having been able to complete a tournament for the first time since the Augusta Masters last year.
“This is progress, it is the right direction,” said the 47-year-old American. “My team has been fantastic getting my body back on a day-to-day basis and preparing me to play every day.”
“That’s the hard part that I can’t simulate at home. Even if I played four days at home, it’s not the same as the adrenaline, intensity, concentration that it takes to play at this level,” said Woods, who had not competed since the Open. British last July.
Woods dazzled Saturday with his best round (4-under 67) since the 2021 car accident that caused serious injuries to his right leg that made it difficult for him to walk.
The winner of 15 Grand Slam tournaments took to the field on Sunday wearing a shirt with his traditional red color from the decisive days, covered this time by a dark vest, and had a positive start signing a birdie on the initial hole and saving the par struggling in the third.
But Woods didn’t take long to show problems with his putting and accumulated five bogeys and three birdies throughout the day in a field where he has managed to win.
“This was progress, but obviously I didn’t win. My streak continues here,” said the ultra-competitive Woods, who reiterated his intention to play in all four Grand Slam tournaments of the year, the first of which is the Augusta Masters in April.
“As I said, I’m not going to play more than probably the ‘Majors’ and maybe a couple (of tournaments) more,” he said. “That’s all my body allows me to do. With all the surgeries I’ve had on my back, my leg the way it is, I just can’t. That will be my future.”
