Ram "Did you see the 10-under-par course record?"... What about 'Number 1' McIlroy?

WGC Series Mexico Championship Day 3: Thomas Leads, Im Sungjae Ties for 30th, Jumps to Tied 4th

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Hole-in-one + 9 birdies (1 bogey)."

World No. 4 Jon Rahm (Spain, photo) set a course record with 10-under par. On the 23rd (Korean time) at the Chapultepec Golf Club in Mexico City, Mexico (par 71, 7,345 yards), during the third day of the World Golf Championships (WGC) Series Mexico Championship (total prize money $10.5 million), he rose to a tie for 4th place (11-under par 202 strokes). Justin Thomas leads by one stroke (15-under par 198 strokes), and Patrick Reed (both from the USA) are tied for 2nd place (14-under par 199 strokes).

Rahm showed an impressive early surge by making four consecutive birdies from holes 1 to 4, followed by back-to-back birdies on holes 6 and 7, reducing six strokes in the first seven holes. Although he made a '3-putt bogey' on the 8th hole (par 4), he recovered with a birdie on the 10th hole (par 4) and added 'stepping stone birdies' on the 13th and 15th holes. It was remarkable that he made a hole-in-one on the 17th hole (par 3). The ball landed just in front of the hole, bounced once, and went straight in. He relied on his 'pinpoint iron shots,' missing the green only twice, and complemented this with an average of 1.43 'stingy putts.'

Rahm turned professional in 2017 and immediately made waves by winning his first career title at the PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open in January. He has already recorded three PGA Tour wins, including the 2018 CareerBuilder Challenge and last year's Zurich Classic, and six European Tour wins. Notably, in December last year, he won the DP World Tour Championship, the final event of the 2019 European Tour season, earning $3 million in prize money plus a $2 million bonus for finishing first in the Race to Dubai.

This year, he is eager after finishing second at last month's Farmers Insurance Open. Rahm has a chance to become the first Spanish player in 31 years since Seve Ballesteros in 1989 to reach world No. 1. The scenario requires him to win this tournament and for Rory McIlroy to finish tied for 3rd place or lower (with two players). McIlroy joined the tie for 4th place by shooting 2-under par today, making the final round even more crucial. McIlroy struggled on the greens.

It is surprising that defending champion Dustin Johnson (USA) fell to a tie for 41st place (1-over par 214 strokes). He has been particularly strong in this tournament, winning three times in the past five years (2015, 2017, and last year). He was hampered by losing five strokes on the first day. In Korea's performance, Im Sung-jae (22) is performing well in a tie for 30th place (2-under par 211 strokes). An Byeong-hun (29) is tied for 52nd place (3-over par 216 strokes), Kang Sung-hoon (33, both from CJ Logistics) is tied for 68th place (11-over par 224 strokes), and Lee Tae-hee (36) remains in last place, 72nd (14-over par 227 strokes).