[Golf Topic] World Ranking No. 3 Jon Rahm "Joining the Race for Number 1~"

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] ○…World No. 3 Jon Rahm (Spain, photo) has joined the 'No. 1 competition'...

On the 20th (Korean time), the U.S. Golf Channel analyzed that "Jon Rahm could rise to No. 1 by winning the World Golf Championships (WGC) Series Mexico Championship." Currently, he has 8.48 points, trailing No. 1 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland, 9.30 points) by 0.82 points. The starting point is that WGC Series world ranking points are considered 'near-major' level. The scenario requires McIlroy to finish tied for 3rd place (with two others) or lower. No. 2 Brooks Koepka (USA, 8.80 points) will not participate in this tournament.

Rahm turned professional in 2017 and immediately made a splash by winning his first career title at the January PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open. He has already claimed three PGA Tour victories, including the 2018 CareerBuilder Challenge and last year's Zurich Classic, and has swept up six wins on the European Tour. Notably, in December last year, he won the European Tour 2019 season finale, the DP World Tour Championship, earning $3 million in prize money plus a $2 million 'Race to Dubai' first-place bonus, hitting a 'jackpot' of $5 million (60 billion won).

This year, he has been frustrated by finishing second at last month's Farmers Insurance Open. It is interesting that Rahm dreams of becoming the first Spanish player to reach world No. 1 in 31 years since Seve Ballesteros in 1989. Rahm himself is fired up, saying, "I will be world No. 1 someday, but right now my goal is to do my best and win every tournament." Along with Genesis Invitational champion Adam Scott (Australia) and Carlos Ortiz (Mexico), he will start the marathon at 4:03 a.m. on the 21st at the 1st hole (par 4).