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The Rolex Testimonee overcame challenges big and small to tame Torrey Pines, win US Open 2021 by one stroke and earn his first major championship
Spanish golfer Jon Rahm's victory at US Open 2021 on 20 June was both expected and unexpected. The 26-year-old finished one shot ahead of his nearest rival, South African Louis Oosthuizen, on the South Course of Torrey Pines to claim his maiden major championship.
His win was expected because the Rolex Testimonee had been in good form in recent months and he was widely regarded by many as the odds-on favourite to clinch the US Open. But on the flipside, it was uncertain if he could have participated in the tournament after he was forced to withdraw after the third round of the Memorial Tournament just 15 days ago; he tested positive for the coronavirus.
But nothing was going to stop the Spaniard. Never mind that he did not have much time to practise his game before the tournament proper. Neither did it matter that he only arrived at Torrey Pines a day before the tournament kicked off.
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Rahm played steadily over the course of the competition—but never spectacularly—fixing his sight on the US Open trophy. He started the final round three strokes off the lead held by Oosthuizen, American Russell Henley and Canadian Mackenzie Hughes. Finishing his first nine at two under par, he climbed up the leaderboard. Then, he went on to hit seven consecutive pars before closing out on a flourish. On the par-five 18th, he got himself out of a greenside bunker and sank a curving 18-foot putt, earning a four-under, final-round 67 to emerge the leader in the clubhouse. Oosthuizen faltered on his 17th and ruined his opportunity to catch up with Rahm. The title gave Rahm his 13th professional victory as he rose to world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking once again.