Jon Rahm — one of the 2021 U.S. Open betting favorites — was running out of time. Down a stroke to Louis Oosthuizen with two holes to play, the fiery
Jon Rahm — one of the 2021 U.S. Open betting favorites — was running out of time. Down a stroke to Louis Oosthuizen with two holes to play, the fiery Spaniard stood over a 25-foot putt on the 17th hole knowing he had an opportunity. Rahm — well known for struggling to keep his emotions in check — settled for a brief moment and sunk a 25-foot left-to-right putt before punching the air with multiple fist pumps. On the 18th, Rahm stared down another impossible birdie attempt, and became the first player since 1982 to birdie the last two holes of the U.S. Open and win by sinking another bending putt. His first major championship victory comes just two weeks after his crushing withdrawal at the Memorial due to a positive Covid-19 test. He held a six-stroke lead after three rounds at Memorial, only to be told his tournament was over. “I’m a big believer in karma, and after what happened a couple weeks ago, I stayed really positive knowing good things were coming,” Rahm said. “I didn’t know what it was going to be, but I knew we were coming to a special place. “I just felt like the stars were aligning, and I knew my best golf was to come.” As Rahm walked off the 18th green, there was no time to relax with Oosthuizen still having multiple holes left to play, but there was time for something much more important.
