Jon Rahm is attempting to soar into some rarified air this week at Torrey Pines where the Farmers Insurance Open begins today.
Rahm, a back-to-back winner after his triumph last Sunday at the American Express, is trying for three straight at a place that is very special to him.
Torrey Pines Golf Course is also where Rahm won his first PGA Tour event in 2017, where he got engaged to his wife, Kelly, and where he won the 2021 U.S. Open.
Winning three straight is difficult from anyone not named Tiger Woods. It’s been done 18 times and 14 of those 18 belong to Tiger, a simple reminder of how dominant he was in the prime of his career. Tiger won seven straight over the 2006-2007 seasons, he won six straight in 1999-2000, five in-a-row back in 2007-2008.
As for Rahm, who often starts a comment with his catch-phrase “I’m not gonna lie…” — Rahm wasn’t telling any lies this week when he arrived at his favorite spot.
“It is on my mind obviously,” Rahm said on Tuesday. “I’ve been reminded of it many, many times. And even more knowing where we’re coming, right, a place where I’ve played so good at. I still need to go out there and shoot a very low score to win. So my mind is on day-to-day at the moment.
“If Sunday—sorry, Saturday afternoon—I get to enjoy a walk down 18 and win, I’ll tell you how it feels and how much it was on my mind, but as of right now I’ve got to focus on the process and what I need to do for tomorrow.”
Rahm’s been on fire. In has last two wins, he’s been a combined 54-under par (Tournament of Champions and AmEx).
What has a lot of folks scratching their collective heads is that Rahm has only climbed to No. 3 in the world rankings behind No. 1 Rory McIlroy and No. 2 Scottie Scheffler. Given that Rahm has won four of his last six events, it shows some weakness in the OWGR algorithms.
Additionally, when he hasn’t won, Rahm’s been in contention at Torrey Pines. He has that 2017 win and has finished tied for fifth, second, tied for seventh and tied for third in his last four starts on his favorite course.
Three of the four rounds are on the famous South Course this week with one round over on the easier North Course. Rahm starts today on the South Course and will play the first 36-holes with Justin Thomas and Tony Finau.
Rahm is well aware of the three-straight feat and how rare it is. LIV Defector Dustin Johnson was the last one to do it and that was in 2017.
“I’m aware very few people have been able to do this,” Rahm said. “I saw some list, think there’s only five or six of us to start the year with two wins, Justin Thomas being the most recent one six years ago.
“I’m aware this is very rare and I appreciate it because if anything, it’s a humbling feeling of how much work you need to put in to be able to do something like this because of the talent you have out there. Keeps you grounded in the sense that if you want to keep doing it, then I would — stay there and keep on going. With that said, no, I don’t take it for granted because who knows how long ’til one of those comes again.”
Television Schedule:
Wednesday-Thursday: ESPN-Plus: 12:30 p.m.-3 p.m.; Golf Channel: 3 p.m.-7 p.m. (EST).
Friday: ESPN-Plus: 12:30-3 p.m.; Golf Channel: 3-5 p.m; CBS: 5-8 p.m. (EST).
Saturday: ESPN-Plus: 12:30-2:30 p.m.; Golf Channel: 2:30-4:30 p.m.; CBS: 4:30-8 p.m. (EST).
