Jon Rahm never lost sight of the Mexico Open in Vidanta

Jon Rahmwith two birdies in the last two par 5 of the course Vidanta Vallarta, in Puerto Vallartaalong with the last two errors of Cameron Champallowed the world No. 2 to maintain the lead by two shots after third day of the Mexico Open in Vidantang PGA Tours.

Rahm, whose final victory is on Torrey Pines USA Open in Juneraised his fist on Saturday after drilling a birdie putt (the fourth of the day) about 4 meters on the 18th hole to sign a round of 68 strokes, three under par, and 198 overall (-15).

Rahm liked his game from tee to green and the only thing he regrets is that he never made more putts. “The putt on the 18th was the first putt out of 10 feet I saw go into the hole,” Rahm said. “If I continue like this and putts like I did in the first two days, I think I’ll give myself a very good chance this Sunday,” added the Basque, who is seeking his seventh title on the tour: the first is in 2017.

An hour before that birdie on the 18th after visiting the bunker, Rahm was two shots behind leader Champ and trying to keep up with the American, one of the longest hitters on the circuit and took advantage of the windy conditions at Vidanta Vallarta.

On the 15th and 16th holes, Champ signed two bogeys with chips technique errors on the green. In the 18th minute, from the right side, he was also unable to leave the ball close for the birdie and from almost 5 meters he passed the putt, par, and 67 strokes (200, -13).

Rahm had two chances with the eagle, at 6, par 5 (from about 6/7 meters) and at 7, par 4 where you can reach the teeing green (about 5 meters), but in both he did two putts and scored two birdies. He went into the water on the hard 10th hole and there he added the lone bogey of the day as Champ led with a birdie on the 12th hole, and then momentarily stretched his lead to two shots with a long up- and-down. from the right. off the green at 14.

Rahm chipped in a birdie chance in the 12th with a short putt missed. But he got it at 14, and then played solid the rest of the round, closing his round with the questionable birdie at 18.

This is the seventh time Rahm has faced the lead or co-leader in the final round of a tournament. He only got one of the last six chances on the PGA Tour (2020 Memorial), not including his retirement from Memorial last year, when he led by six shots with 18 holes left and didn’t play in the final round due to a positive test for COVID-19. In Puerto Vallarta, where he is the best player in the rankings in the world, he will play with a margin of just two shots, and there are five players with three in the lead.

Classification day 3 (par 71):

1. Jon Rahm (ESP) -15 (64-66-68)

2. Cameron Champ (USA) -13 (67-66-67)

_. Kurt Kitayama (USA) -13 (64-70-66)

4. Davis Riley (USA) -12 (69-65-67)

_. Patrick Rodgers (USA) -12 (66-69-66)

_. Nate Lashley (USA) -12 (69-68-64)

7. Alex Smalley (USA) -11 (66-66-70)

8. Aaron Rai (ENG) -10 (65-69-69)

_. Satoshi Kodaira (JAP) -10 (67-69-67)

_. Patrick Reed (USA) -10 (67-66-70)

_. Andrew Novak (USA) -10 (66-67-70)