Rahm sinks and puts number one up for auction

The Bay Hill course (Florida, USA) has earned the ‘honor’ of being remembered as the first course that managed to disfigure Jon Rahm in 2023. “It’s fucking difficult,” the man from Barrika said this Friday to define the enclave where the Arnold Palmer Invitational is held, and the third round of the event proved the Spanish golfer right. Rahm suffered for the second day in a row and lost any chance of winning after signing a card again. 76 shots, four over par, for a total of +1 that leaves Jon 44th. The one from Barrika gets into a dangerous situation, and that is that this Sunday he can give up the number one in the world ranking that he recovered just a few weeks ago. Scottie Scheffler (second at -8, one stroke behind leader Kurt Kitayama) and Rory McIlroy (-6) will start with options for a win that would give them the leadership of the classification.

As it happened in the second round, and really as it has been happening in his last appearances, Rahmbo was once again denied from the starting tee. The few streets taken (5/14 today, 19/42 so far in the tournament) and the five visits to the arena once again weighed down the Spaniard, who ended up losing all the cushion won on the first day (he finished leading with -7). And that did not start badly this Saturday. Birdies at 4 and 5 offered hope with Rahm at -2, but it turned out to be a mirage. Since then, the winner of three tournaments so far this year has shown one of the most irregular and inaccurate versions in his memory. For the first time since the 2018 US Open, Jon chained two consecutive rounds above 76 shots.

In the final 12 holes, Rahm scored up to eight bogeys of all colors: some came after ending up in a bunker, like in 7, 9, 10 or 18; others, like on the 11th and 13th, after exploring the water (second day in a row in which he hits two balls into the Bay Hill lakes); and on 8 and 15 it was for failing to start. This version of Rahm had not been seen so far in 2023, and Spanish can pay dearly for it. Of the headliners of this Arnold Palmer, he is one of the few who does not arrive involved in the fight for the final day, in which the two contenders for the world number one held by Rahmbo are: Scottie Scheffler, second, and Rory McIlroy, fifth.

Because, despite the absence of Rahm, the final day at Bay Hill looks exciting, with a bunch of favorites all quite grouped. The advantage is for Kurt Kitayama, leader with -9, Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler, seconds with -8. The Norwegian, somewhat hidden so far this year, was unleashed with a round of six under par, the best lap of the day, while the number two in the world signed four under par. To become the king of the OWGR again, Scheffler would do with the final victory or with a second place (As long as Rahm doesn’t climb too many positions this Sunday). But the leading trio is closely followed by others like Tyrell Hatton (-7) or Rory McIlroy (-6), who must also win to raise the one to Rahm. The battle, for the first time so far this year without the Spanish golfer involved, is more than served.