(Los Angeles) The Spaniard Jon Rahm took the lead in the world golf rankings, dethroning the American Scottie Scheffler, after his victory Sunday at the Genesis Invitational, in a tournament where the main media attraction was the star Tiger Woods, who was his return to the field after a seven-month absence, finishing 45e.
Rahm, who wins his third title this season, returned a card of 69 on Sunday, or 2 strokes under par, for a total of 267 (-17), and becomes world No. 1 for the first time since March 2022.
“To reach this milestone of double digit wins is pretty incredible,” said Rahm, who won his tenth trophy on the North American Tour (PGA).
“And to do it on a golf course with that heritage, that history and hosted by the man himself, Tiger Woods, is a real honor. I can’t really explain it,” he said, as the Genesis Invitational is sponsored by Woods.
PHOTO BY RYAN KANG, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tiger Woods
However, this victory, Rahm had to snatch it, while he left with three strokes ahead of the American Max Homa.
After a birdie from Homa at 9e hole, Rahm conceded a bogey at 10e hole, where Homa signed a new birdie, which returned the two players to equality.
But the 28-year-old Spaniard recovered with two birdies at 14e and 16e holes, allowing him to secure victory at the Riviera Country Club, where, as he recalled, legends Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus never won.
“It was a difficult week and a difficult Sunday. I’m glad I made it out in the end,” said Rahm, who had to share the spotlight with Woods, who was playing his first professional tournament since the Championship tournament in July 2022.
He described his four full laps at the Genesis as “progress” even though, as an inveterate competitor, he would have liked to do better.
“It’s just my reality”
“It’s progress, but I didn’t win,” said the golfer at the 15 Majors, still limited by fractures to his right leg in a serious road accident two years ago, which required multiple operations.
“It was definitely a little tougher than I was letting on,” added Woods, who finished his tournament at one stroke under par. “My team has been fantastic in getting my body to recover day by day and getting me ready to play every day. »
“That’s the hardest part, the one I can’t fake at home,” Woods explained. “Even if I played four days at home, it’s not the same as adrenaline, it’s not the same as the system that is ramped up like that, the intensity, just the concentration it takes to play at this level. »
Sunday, after a nice birdie on the 1er hole, Woods conceded a series of bogeys to the 5e8e9e and 12e holes, before signing a superb birdie at 13e on a putt of almost 9 m.
At 15e hole, he conceded a disappointing bogey by missing a one-yard putt, before recovering quickly with a birdie at 16e.
With his right leg and ankle still making walking problematic, the 47-year-old said he can only hope to play all four Majors, plus “a few more” tournaments in the year. “That’s all, that’s all my body’s gonna let me do […] It’s just my reality, ”he breathed.