Jon Rahm became the fourth Spanish major champion when he finished with two brilliant birdies to capture the U.S. Open in San Diego.
Photo: AFP
He edged South African Louis Oosthuizen by one stroke in a wild battle of attrition that finally turned into a two-man race as several other contenders came unglued on the difficult back nine at Torrey Pines.
Rahm was the only contender to avoid a bogey on the inward half, and he timed his run perfectly by sinking lengthy, sharply-breaking putts at the 17th and 18th holes.
He shot 67 for a six-under-par 278, and was confirmed as the champion when Oosthuizen was unable to eagle the par-five 18th.
Rahm dedicated his victory to his late countryman Seve Ballesteros, who died a decade ago of brain cancer.
Ballesteros won five majors, but never the U.S. Open.
Jon Rahm celebrates making a birdie on the 18th hole of the final round at Torrey Pines. Photo: AFP
"This is definitely for Seve. I know he wanted to win this one most of all," said an emotional Rahm moments after clinching the title.
The win comes a fortnight after Rahm was withdrawn from the Memorial tournament after testing positive for coronavirus before the final round. He had a six-shot lead at the time.
"I'm a big believer in karma and after what happened a couple of weeks ago I stayed really positive knowing big things were coming," he said.
"I didn't know what it was going to be but I knew we were coming to a special place. I got my breakthrough win here and it is a very special place for my family."
While Rahm celebrated, Oosthuizen pondered another major near-miss.
Though Oosthuizen birdied the final hole for a 71, it was another bitter pill for the likeable South African, who also finished runner-up at last month's PGA Championship, and now has six career second-placings in the four tournaments that comprise the grand slam.
- Reuters