The time has come for Jon Rahm to take revenge at The Memorial, the tournament that marked a before and after in his season last year. After the third round, the ‘León de Barrika’ was announced that he had to leave the tournament after having tested positive for covid.
The image of such a moment was captured on television, which showed a Jon who could not believe it, but resignedly assumed what was happening. The Basque was leading the Jack Nicklaus tournament by six strokes and was playing the best golf of his life.
He did not look like victory was going to escape him and he even dreamed of successfully defending an event that he had won the previous year. No one had won two consecutive editions of the Memorial since Tiger Woods in 2000 and 2001.
Jon Rahm, statements
“I allowed myself to be angry for 10 minutes,” said the number two in the world. Basically it was the time that passed until he was finally able to call home and check that his wife and his son were okay.
Later, in the room that he had reserved in the club in case someone tested positive, he had a milkshake with his caddy Adam Hayes and the disgust finally dissipated. Just ten days later, the US Open began at Torrey Pines, ‘Rahmbo’s’ favorite course.
In the US they hung the favorite sign on the Basque because of his history on that iconic tour, but also, they said, because karma owed Jon a Hollywood movie ending. And, indeed, the machinery was still well oiled and Rahm’s first victory in a ‘major’ took place.
But this week, not surprisingly, he wipes the slate clean at Muirfield Village. Another Spaniard, Rafa Cabrera Bello, will accompany Jon in Dublin (Ohio). In any case, Barrika’s, who won in Mexico and then finished in 48th place in the PGA Championship, has emerged as the favorite for almost all experts in the United States, appealing again to karma…
since he has caught the average to the field. In any case, the Spaniard will also have very prominent rivals such as Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young, Will Zalatoris, Patrick Cantlay, Colin Morikawa or Shane Lowry.
Source: Tennis World USA