Rahm borders on the PGA and the Englishman Rai wins his first major

The Spanish golfer Jon Rahm finished second in the PGA Championship held until this Sunday on the Aronimink course (Philadelphia), where the Englishman Aaron Rai, champion of his first ‘Grand Slam’, triumphed with authority.

The Basque brushed against a PGA that eluded him last year, when he missed it in the last three holes, and that continues to resist Spanish golf as the ‘major’ that neither Severiano Ballesteros, José María Olazabal nor Sergio García managed to win. Nor this time was Rahm who was looking for his third ‘big’, and who had it within reach with a strong start of two ‘birdies’ in the first two holes.

The man from Barrika started the final day two strokes behind the American Alex Smalley, with whom he finished tied for second position, three strokes behind Rai. The Englishman put in the lead from an eagle on the 9th hole and signed four birdies in a second round that, at times, seemed conservative.

However, Rai increased his advantage with the 16th and sealed the PGA with a 20-meter putt on the 17th to become the second winner from England, after Jim Barnes in 1916 and 1919. At 31 years old, the man from Wombourne, who was having a frustrating campaign due to injuries, won the sixth tournament of his record and the first ‘Grand Slam’, without anyone seeing his comeback coming.

With more than 40 golfers in six shots, Sunday promised a long finish until Rai was left alone. Behind, Rahm saw his moment fade with bogeys on three and seven, to later take advantage of the par five on nine. The second round did not leave him much of a ‘birdie’ option, but in the 15th, which he let escape, just when Rai opened an already insurmountable distance with -9.

The Basque, with two victories in the LIV Golf this season, fell short but showed that he was in good golf shape. With a birdie on 18, Smalley tied him for second place (-6). Tied for fourth place were the American Justin Thomas, the Swede Ludvig Aberg and the German Maltti Schmid.

The two best players in the world were also included in that large lineup of candidates. The number one and defending champion, Scottie Scheffler, finished -2 ​​in the ‘Top 15’, while the number two and champion of the Augusta Masters a month ago, Rory McIlroy, with -4 after failing in the affordable holes 13 and 16. The other Spaniard in contention, David Puig, finished ‘Top 20’ with -1.