Jon Rahm, world number 2leader of the FedEx Cup and finalist in this tournament in 2017 in his first participation, is still alive in World Match Play which is played on Austin Country Club, in Austin (Texas) thanks to his victory over the American Keith Mitchell for 4 and 3. Five birdies, an eagle and a bogey signed off the Spaniard in the Texan field, recovering from the sensations for Friday’s decisive day.
The Basque was always on top of the scoreboard and the eagle putt holed from about 4 meters on the 12th hole, par 5, was key to the fortunes of the match (Mitchell, from about the same distance, hung the ball from the hole also for the ‘3’) which put him ‘4 up’ and six to play.
Under intense pressure, Mitchell went straight for the water on his start at 13 while Jon, comfortable in the fairway, putted his second shot with a birdie option. On this hole, Rahm almost gave the finishing touch to his rival (five holes ahead and five to play, which in golf slang is called a ‘dormie’), ending up shaking hands with Barrika at 15 after losing Jon on hole 14.
On a day complicated by winds that at times blew hard, Rahm reversed the loss suffered the previous day against Rickie Fowler with three painful three-putt greens that earned him the win.
Rahm doesn’t rely on him alone
The truth is that Jon had a hard time distancing himself from his rival. He wasn’t able to get down on the scoreboard where he wanted until the second half of the tour started. Going into the 9th hole, the lead was two holes after beating Mitchell on 1 and 2, and surrendering the 3rd with a birdie where the American left the ball a foot from the hole.
He ‘putted’ for the eagle Rahm in 5, but he made three putts and gave life to his rival, even in hole 6 he was placed ‘two up’. They both reached 7, par 3, with a favorable wind, and after two shots, the American holed out for birdie and the Spaniard missed. They tied the 8th and Jon this time birdied the 9th, his opponent missing by one shorter.
Not only does Rahm depend on his result and a win over Mitchell no matter what, he also has an eye on another duel in the group, the one they’re playing. Billy Horschel and Rickie Fowler. The Basque needs Horschel to beat Fowler and await the decisive match between the two on Friday. Only one of each group passed.
Source: La Verdad
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