2021 U.S. Open final results - Rahm holds his nerves to become Spain's fourth major winner
The Torrey Pines Golf Course at La Jolla, California has twice witnessed Jon Rahm's biggest wins in his career. Firstly was in the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open, when the young Spaniard took his maiden PGA Tour win. Today, when Torrey Pines hosted golf's toughest major championship (the U.S. Open), Rahm's major winning dream came true after holding his nerves during the final round of the 121st U.S. Open. With this major win, Rahm joined Seve Ballesteros (1984 British Open), Jose Maria Olazabal (1994 Masters) and Sergio Garcia (2017 Masters) as the Spaniard who won a major and national open (Spanish Open).
Two weeks prior to the major tournament, it was reported that Rahm has tested positive of COVID-19 while competing at the Memorial Tournament. However just days before the first round of U.S. Open, Rahm was tested negative and allowed to compete.
By the first two rounds, Rahm scored worse shots and was eight strokes behind the leaders after 2nd round. However, in the third round, Rahm started to score better round and found himself two behind the co-leaders after 54 holes (third round).
In the final round, Rahm started with two birdies on the first three holes. However, the Spaniard bogeyed the par-4 4th hole, as other contenders like Louis Oosthuizen and Russell Henley did the same thing. After nine holes, Rahm who played earlier than Oosthuizen and Henley trailed Oosthuizen by one shot. However, the scenario changed in the final two holes. Rahm birdied the final two holes to take the clubhouse lead after Oosthuizen bogeyed the 17th hole. With Rahm waiting for the possible aggregate playoff, Oosthuizen must hole the putt for eagle to force playoff, however the South African missed the putt and made birdie, leaving Rahm to win his maiden major title.
