By:
Jack Hirsh
January 21, 2023
Jon Rahm is within the midst of a worldwide heater.
Getty Photos
After three rounds in La Quinta, it’s virtually turn out to be a two horse race.
Jon Rahm and Davis Thompson will start the ultimate spherical tied at 23 below and 4 photographs away from the remainder of the sphere.
The three programs used for the primary three rounds of this pro-am occasion have been torn aside this week as the ten below 54-hole lower was the bottom on the occasion since 2016.
Each Rahm and Thompson have a lot to play for Sunday, however every for various causes.
Listed below are three storylines we’re watching heading into the fourth and last spherical:
Jon Rahm can’t get to World No. 1 this week, however somebody behind him can
By:
Jack Hirsh
Jon Rahm’s run of dominance
By means of 12 holes, Rahm seemed to be working away with the event. He began the day two behind Thompson, however six birdies and an eagle had him up by three and on 59 watch. A few putts that simply wouldn’t fail on the ultimate six holes and a three-putt on 17 cooled him to a 65 on the PGA West Stadium Course to comply with his opening pair of 64s.
Regardless of the lower than stellar end, he nonetheless enters the ultimate spherical with an incredible likelihood for his second-straight win and his second win at The American Categorical.
“So [I’m] very assured going into tomorrow and realizing that I’m going to must shoot one other low rating if I wish to have an opportunity to win,” Rahm mentioned after the spherical. “if we get this climate once more I’m going to must shoot most certainly 66 or decrease to have a great likelihood to win. However that’s the problem. It’s what it’s. The extent of expertise of this TOUR is simply rising. It’s exhibiting with this, with the scores we’re taking pictures in these tournaments that for a very long time we’ve shot low scores at however not this low.””
Over his previous 9 worldwide begins, Rahm has eight top-10s and three wins. Whereas he can’t transfer to World No. 1 this week (Extra on that under), he nonetheless can transfer up from No. 4 to No. 3 within the OWGR with a win.
Davis Thompson seeks first win
Thompson started Saturday with a two shot lead after a file setting opening two rounds.
The rookie made 5 eagles by means of the opening two rounds, tying the PGA Tour file for many eagles in a 72-hole occasion.
‘I didn’t know’: This rookie simply tied an unbelievable PGA Tour file on the American Categorical
By:
Kevin Cunningham
He cooled barely on Saturday, however pulled even with Rahm halfway by means of his again 9. The rookie, who earned his standing by means of the Korn Ferry Tour final season, made six birdies and one bogey in his 67.
The 2-year exemption for PGA Tour winners must be high of thoughts for the 23-year-old. A win would additionally qualify him for his first Masters in April. To not point out, he nonetheless has a number of alternatives to set the eagles file.
Race for World No. 1
World No. 2 Scottie Scheffler and No. 5 Patrick Cantlay each entered the week with possibilities to turn out to be the No. 1 participant on the planet.
Scheffler’s math was easy: End inside solo eighth or higher and transfer again to World No. 1. By means of 53 holes Scheffler was the one participant within the subject bogey-free, till he hooked his method on the 18th gap into the water.
He nonetheless managed to scramble for his first bogey of the week and can begin Sunday at 17 below. The bogey moved him simply exterior the coveted high 8 spot he wants.
In the meantime, Cantlay had a troublesome time getting something going Saturday, beginning with 15 pars earlier than lastly making a birdie on the par-5 sixteenth. He adopted that up by hitting it within the water on the the seventeenth. He ended up making the lower by one. The one eventualities for him to maneuver to World No. 1 require him to win, in keeping with OWGR guru Nosferatu.
🚨#OWGR No.1 watch:
– Scheffler will turn out to be No.1 if he finishes solo eighth or higher @theamexgolf
– Scottie can even turn out to be No.1 if he finishes solo ninth or 3-way T8 or 2-way T8 and if Cantlay would not win
– Cantlay will turn out to be No.1 if he wins and Scottie finishes solo eighth or worse— Nosferatu (@VC606) January 19, 2023
Because of modifications to Official World Golf Rating from August nonetheless needing time to mature, Rahm, regardless of being fourth within the OWGR, can solely transfer as excessive as third with a win.
Jack Hirsh
Golf.com Editor
Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is 2020 graduate of Penn State College, incomes levels in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his highschool golf workforce and nonetheless *tries* to stay aggressive in native amateurs. Earlier than becoming a member of GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but additionally producing, anchoring and even presenting the climate. He may be reached at [email protected]