Jon Rahm surged on the final day to capture the U.S. Open title Sunday, beating Louis Oosthuizen by a stroke.
The Spaniard shot a 4-under 67 in the final round at the Torrey Pines Golf Course to win his first U.S. Open. He was the Farmers Insurance Open champ on the same course four years ago.
“I’ve done it here before and those memories always help,” Rahm told NBC following his victory.
Rahm, 26, had to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament in Ohio earlier this month after testing positive for COVID-19. He held a commanding lead at the time – six strokes – with just one round to go.
Yet on Sunday he said he was “never resentful for any second for what happened,” pointing to his country’s heavy losses in the pandemic, his own mild symptoms and the sudden death of a journalist he knew from COVID.
On Father’s Day, he also noted the support of his dad, along with his new baby son, just two months old. Both joined him on the course.
Rahm shot 6-under 278 for the tournament to lead Oosthuizen, who once again settled for runner-up at the Open. He tied for second in 2015.
“Look, it’s frustrating. It’s disappointing,” Oosthuizen told the Associated Press.
Rahm won the tournament with birdies on the 17th and 18th holes, according to AP, and that’s also where Oosthuizen lost it.
After a bogey on the 17th hole, he needed an eagle on the next to force Rahm to a playoff, but fell short.
Oosthuizen shot even-par 71 in his final round. Harris English finished in third, three strokes behind Rahm, leapfrogging several golfers with a 3-under 68 for the day.
Russell Henley, who shared the lead during the first three rounds, had a disastrous Sunday. He sank to a tie for13th with a 5-over 76.
Here’s the finishes for locals in the tournament:
- Xander Schauffele, from San Diego State, closed his Open with an even-par 71 to finish tied for seventh, five strokes behind Rahm.
- Charley Hoffman, from Poway High, shot a 5-over 76, and ended up at 10-over 294.
- Phil Mickelson, a popular favorite in his hometown who has never won an Open title, shot 4-over 75, ending the tournament at 11-over 295.