Jon Rahm wins first major after thrilling US Open battle with Louis Oosthuizen
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Former world number one Jon Rahm is the US Open champion after ending his tournament with a pair of clutch birdies to edge South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen by one stroke.
Oosthuizen led for much of the last round but two bogeys on the way in left him one shot behind Spaniard Rahm, who shot 4-under-par 67 in the final round to finish at 6-under for the tournament.
Oosthuizen eagled the par-five last in the third round, and would have had to do so again to force a playoff with Rahm, but the 2010 British Open champion could only manage a birdie to finish with an even-par 71.
Monday’s (AEST) victory for Rahm came two weeks after he was sensationally told he had tested positive for coronavirus at the Memorial PGA tournament as he left the course with a six-stroke lead after the third round.
“This is the power of positive thinking. I was never resentful for anything that happened, and I never blamed anyone,” the 26-year-old said.
“I know some people may say it was unfair, but it had to be done. We have to be aware of what is happening in this world.”
Stars like Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka were all in the mix earlier in the final round, but faded late.
Defending champion DeChambeau’s implosion was particularly impressive, as he went from fighting for the lead to finishing nine strokes behind Rahm in a tie for 26th thanks to his final eight holes.
The 27-year-old shot 8-over-par on the final eight holes, including a quadruple bogey on the 17th and a double on 13.
Look back at how the final round played out in our live blog below.
Live updates
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Leaderboard
- Jon Rahm -6 (67)
- Louis Oosthuizen -5 (71)
- Harris English -3 (68)
- Guido Migliozzi -2 (68)
- Brooks Koepka -2 (69)
- Collin Morikawa -2 (70)
By Dean Bilton
Congratulations Jon Rahm
That’s where we’ll leave it from what turned out to be a pretty damn entertaining last round of the US Open. For a while there it looked like we were going to have about 10 of the world’s best going at it to the death, and then they all pretty much blew up simultaneously. That left just Jon Rahm and Louis Oostheizen, and while the South African stuttered, the Spaniard siezed the moment. Those two birdie putts are instantly among the most famous in the US Open’s long history.
Cheers for joining me this morning, that was fun. We’ll catch you next time!
By Dean Bilton
Perspective from Louis Oosthuizen
By Dean Bilton
Jon Rahm addresses his COVID withdrawal at the Memorial
This is the power of positive thinking. I was never resentful for anything that happened, and I never blamed anyone.
COVID has affected a lot of people, and I had the best possible hand — nobody in my family got sick, I barely had any symptoms. But I have lost lots of people back home.
I know some people may say it was unfair, but it had to be done. We have to be aware of what is happening in this world.
By Dean Bilton
The magic moment for Jon Rahm
By Dean Bilton
A big two weeks for Jon Rahm
In case you missed it, this was Rahm’s story at the Memorial Tournament just two weeks ago. He was six shots clear, striking the pants off it, only to be told as he walked off the 18th green that he had tested positive for COVID, and had to withdraw.
He only got out of quarantine a couple of days ago, and has now come out and won the US Open.
By Dean Bilton
One more time… those winning putts from Jon Rahm
Two of the most clutch putts you’ll ever see. Birdies on the 17th and 18th to win the US Open by a shot.
By Dean Bilton
By Dean Bilton
Key Event
Jon Rahm has won the US Open!
Jubilant celebrations for Jon, his wife Kelley and newborn son Kepa — all this on Father’s Day over there too! He’s the first Spaniard to ever win the US Open:
“This one is for Seve,” he said.
He won his first ever PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines in 2017, and now he has his first ever major.
By Dean Bilton
So this is it. Louis Oosthuizen has to hole out from the fairway to force a playoff…
He doesn’t.
By Dean Bilton
Louis Oosthuizen lays up
I think he had to. He probably should have got it a little closer to the water and the green, but at least the ball is in play. He honestly had no play at the green with that lie. At least he has a 1% chance of holing out from here.
By Dean Bilton
Food for thought for Louis Oosthuizen
Looks like he’s weighing up going for the green, and brining the water into play, or laying up short and hoping for a miracle chip-in. Odds firmly stacked against him either way.
By Dean Bilton
All down to this for Louis Oosthuizen
Par-five 18th, just about the easiest hole on the course. Very reachable in two. Just needs two good swings here.
Remember, he eagled this hole yesterday…
But today Louis has missed the fairway! It’s in the rough, he’s going to have to swing his eyebrows off to get that one on the green.
He has to go for it, but the most likely outcome here is that ball plonking in the middle of the pond in front of the green. We’ll soon see.
By Dean Bilton
Oosthuizen misses!
Not by much, but a miss all the same. He’s two shots back with a hole to play thanks to that bogey.
He has to eagle the last to force a playoff. Not impossible.
By Dean Bilton
Unbelievable shot from Oosthuizen!
He has this for par, which would mean he is a birdie away from forcing a playoff. Big putt coming up…
By Dean Bilton
Louis Oosthuizen drives into the canyon on 17!
And that, my friends, might just about be that. Making par from there is a significant long shot. Jon Rahm may have just cracked a smile in the clubhouse.
We’ve found it though, so he might be able to hack something out. Gonna take something special.
Nope, he’s taking a drop and wearing the penalty. Probably the smart play.
By Dean Bilton
Not a good putt from Louis Oosthuizen
He now has this to save par.
If he drops one here, it’s a long way back.
HE SINKS IT! Ice cold. Louis still in it.
By Dean Bilton
Bryson DeChambeau update
It has gotten UGLY for our good friend Big Chungus.
Yep, that is an EIGHT on the 17th. He drove it into the canyon, scuffed it into the rough, absolutely shanked the next one to nowhere, bad chip, two putts.
You hate to see it.
By Dean Bilton
Oosthuizen on the tee at 16
Long, tricky par-three. He plays a confident long iron and finds the middle of the green, no fuss. This is a tough hole, if he can get out of this with a par he’ll be feeling real good about things.
By Dean Bilton
So all eyes are now on Louis Oosthuizen
He’s got a knee-knocker for par on 15… and he drains it. Not sure his knees ever knock over short putts, to be honest.
So Louis has three holes to play, one shot down. PLENTY of time for him to do what he needs to, especially with the 18th lurking just ahead of him.
This is miles from over.
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