World No. 1 Jon Rahm surges in pursuit of Tony Finau at Mexico Open
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Spanish golfer Jon Rahm reacting on the 18th hole during the third round of the Mexico Open on Saturday.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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MEXICO CITY – Top-ranked Masters champion Jon Rahm leader Tony Finau at the Mexico Open.
Rahm, the defending champion, matched his career-best PGA Tour round score, barely putting a foot wrong in a round that featured 10 birdies without a bogey for a course record at Vidanta Vallarta.
“Today, everything just seemed perfect,” the Spaniard said. “Made a lot of great swings and the ones that weren’t great, still gave myself a good result.”
Finau, who started the day with a one-shot lead, did not bow to the pressure, carding a 65 for 19-under 194 and a two-shot lead over Rahm and 21-year-old fellow American Akshay Bhatia.
Bhatia had eight birdies and an eagle at the 18th in his 63 to join Rahm on 196.
Rahm, making his second start since he claimed a second Major at Augusta National three weeks ago, started the day six adrift but wasted no time in making up ground.
But the 28-year-old’s record-breaking round still was not enough to catch Finau, who is 18 holes away from winning his second event this season after taking home the title at the Houston Open in November.
“It would be great to get multiple-win seasons back to back I think would be pretty special for me in my career,” Finau, 33, said.
“It will be the first time and I’ll be trying to do that tomorrow...
“I’m definitely a leaderboard watcher, but I didn’t see my first leaderboard until I think about 13. So I think it definitely got my juices going a little bit and was able to make a few birdies coming in to stay in front of (Rahm).
“It was something I expected going into today, he’s an amazing golfer. I play with him a lot and to see him at the top of the leaderboard after only 12 or 13 holes was not a big surprise to me.”
Meanwhile, Cheyenne Knight fired a four-under 67 for a 204 total to jump into the lead after the third round of the inaugural LPGA LA Championship on Saturday in Los Angeles.
Knight, who began the day in a three-way tie for second, had an eagle on the par-five 13th hole, two birdies and all pars the rest of the way at Wilshire Country Club.
She has a two-shot lead over South Korea’s Ryu Hae-ran (67) and Australia’s Hannah Green (69).
“I just kind of felt calm out there and confident, I would say,” said Knight, whose only previous LPGA Tour victory came in 2019.
“I just tried to do everything right and visualise my shot well, and then just let it go and trust my swing. Just kind of free-wheel it out there.” AFP, REUTERS
