McIlroy’s World No.1 Ranking Under Threat By Rahm

4 years ago by Comments Off on McIlroy’s World No.1 Ranking Under Threat By Rahm

Rory McIlroy’s World No. 1 ranking is now under serious threat heading to the final round of the WGC- Mexico Championship.

McIlroy managed five birdies but also two bogeys in a third round 68 and sharing fourth place at 11-under par with American Justin Thomas showing the way in posting a 65 to lead the maiden WGC of the year at 15-under par.

‘JT’ has got better with each round posting earlier scores of 67 and 66 while he began and ended his third day in Mexico City with bogeys.  In between, the American posted eight birdies.

The duo of South African Erik Van Rooyen (67), and contesting just his fifth career WGC, along with American Patrick Reed (67) share third place at 14-under par.

Spaniard and double Irish Open winning Jon Rahm posted a blistering new course record 10-under par 61 that included a stunning ace at the par-3 17th hole and with Rahm’s tee shot taking one big bounce and ending-up in the bottom of the cup.  The reigning European No. 1 celebrated dropping his club in delight and throwing both arsm in the air and much to enormous delight of all those watching.

“I had just hit on 16 a three-quarter 52 wedge that landed 119, so I told myself let’s hit the exact same shot, and it landed three short, so I hit it 120 and it bounced in,” he said.

“I don’t know what to say, it’s just one of those lucky moments where you have the exact same shot afterwards and muscle memory to back it up with”.

Rahm shares fourth place with McIlroy and he can be assured to also throw both arms in the air should he capture what would be the 25-year old’s a first WGC victory and the 11th title of his pro career.

And if Rahm wins in Mexico City and McIlroy should finish worse that a two-year T3rd placing then Rahm will become the new World No. 1, and Rahm knew how to answer that question.

“There’s still a tournament to play, 18 holes so becoming No. 1 in the world would be a complete — it’s a consequence of playing good, so I have 18 more holes,” he said.

“If I do my job tomorrow, we’ll speak about that tomorrow.”

If successful, Rahm will become only the second Spanish-born No. 1 since the late, great Seve Ballesteros who ended a combined run of 61 weeks as the game’s best in August, 1989.

The WGC-Mexico Championship is set for a thrilling finale as European Tour Members Patrick Reed and Erik van Rooyen attempt to overturn Justin Thomas’ one-stroke advantage, while Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm all sit ominously in a share of fourth place at Chapultepec Golf Club.

Van Rooyen is targeting a first professional victory outside of Europe in just his fifth World Golf Championships appearance, while Reed is chasing a second WGC title – having triumphed in his debut at this event, formerly known as the WGC-Cadillac Championship, in 2014.

Both players carded rounds of 67 for a 14 under total, one shot behind Thomas who signed for a six under 65.

Rahm, meanwhile, delighted the Mexican crowds as the Spaniard broke the course record with the most remarkable ten under 61, carding ten birdies before a hole-in-one at the 17th helped move him into contention for a maiden World Golf Championships victory.

Rahm was joined by McIlroy, who recorded a three under 68, four shots back alongside second round leader DeChambeau.

McIlroy was given the day off in speaking to the media but then he cannot be ruled out of victory.

His third round was a mix of five birdies and two bogeys though McIlroy struggled after back-to-back birdies on 11 and 12 in playing the closing six holes in one-over par.

Shane Lowry also birdied the 11th and 12th holes that got the Open Champion back to one-under par for his round though it was a difficult finish with the Irishman dropping a shot on 13 taking a birdie on 15 but making a mess of the par-4 16th in taking a double before a closing hole birdie.

It handed Lowry a round of a level par 71 to remain at one-under par but dropping back to a share of 34th place.

And Graeme McDowell must already be counting the hours to he gets back to his Orlando abode and put his feet up for a week after rounds of 76, 74 and 75 to be lying 70th in the 72-player field.



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