Rahm outlasts rookie Thompson to win AmEx by 1 stroke

LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — Jon Rahm took benefit of errors by rookie Davis Thompson over the adventuresome ultimate three holes and closed with a 4-under 68 to win The American Categorical by one stroke on Sunday, his second PGA Tour win in as many begins this yr.

The Spanish star pumped his proper fist and flashed a glance of aid after tapping in for a two-putt par on No. 18.

They have been tied with three holes to play when Thompson, who led by 36 holes and shared the lead with Rahm going into Sunday, pulled his drive right into a deep fairway bunker on the par-5 sixteenth and wound up with par. Rahm made birdie to take the lead.

On the par-3 seventeenth, Thompson selected to depart the pin in for his 50-foot birdie putt on the island inexperienced, and the ball squarely hit the pin and rolled away. The 23-year-old from Georgia dropped his putter and put his arms to his face. As he walked to the 18th tee after tapping in for par, he pulled his shirt up over his mouth in frustration.

Rahm hit his tee shot into the bunker on 18 however recovered properly with a shot to fifteen ft and pumped his fist. Thompson’s drive discovered the golf green however his strategy bounced on the inexperienced and ran down the slope behind it. The rookie hit a daring flop store that settled a foot to the proper of the opening. He shot 69.

Rahm had two putts to complete at 17-under 261 and win for the ninth time on the PGA Tour. He strikes up one spot to No. 3 on the planet. He’s taking part in subsequent week at Torrey Pines, whereas world No. 1 Rory McIlroy makes his 2023 debut in Dubai on the European tour.

Rahm opened with two birdies to take the lead, however Thompson ultimately caught as much as him when Rahm’s par putt lipped out on No. 13.

Rahm obtained his share of breaks. From the center of the golf green on the sixteenth, Rahm had his arms on his hips as he watched his second shot head towards the deep bunker down the left aspect. It hit within the dormant tough and stayed within the fairway. That left a pitch to only inside 10 ft, and his birdie putt for the lead swirled into the cup.

Rahm now has gained 4 of his final six begins — he gained the Sentry Event of Champions in Hawaii to begin the yr, and he gained twice on the European tour at finish of final yr. This was his seventh straight high 10 worldwide, a streak that started after the Tour Championship in late August.

Xander Schauffele, two weeks after he withdrew due to again ache, closed with a 62 and completed two behind with Chris Kirk (64).

Taylor Montgomery was difficult Rahm and Thompson till he put his tee shot into the water on the seventeenth. He closed with a 66 and completed fifth.

Scottie Scheffler closed with a 67 and tied for eleventh. He narrowly missed a birdie putt on the ultimate gap that will have allowed him to return to No. 1 by a fraction of some extent over McIlroy. Scheffler just isn’t taking part in subsequent week.

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