Jon Rahm surges into Open contention, shooting a remarkable 63 in the third round

Jon Rahm shoots 8-under 63 to move into second place at The Open Championship.

On Saturday, Jon Rahm experienced a significant shift in his position at The 151st Open Championship. With an exceptional round of golf, the Spaniard went from being in the middle of the pack to securing second place.

In the third round of The Open, Rahm finished with a remarkable 8-under-par 63. He sealed his round with an impressive 11-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, bringing his overall score for the championship to 6-under 207. This outstanding performance took place before the final pairing had even begun their rounds at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England.

Rahm's round was flawless, as he managed to avoid any bogeys. He particularly excelled on the back nine, shooting an impressive 6-under 30. Not only was this the lowest major round of his career, but it was also the lowest round ever recorded at an Open hosted at Royal Liverpool.

By surpassing Tommy Fleetwood of England, who had been 5-under through two rounds, Rahm positioned himself ahead of the pack. Fleetwood teed off alongside leader Brian Harman at the same time Rahm birdied the par-5 18th hole.

Harman had a rough start, bogeying his first hole and dropping to 9-under, which brought Rahm within three strokes of the lead.

In a TV interview, Rahm expressed his satisfaction with his performance, stating, "I was playing well, I was making good swings out there. It was just the first two rounds, I never really carried the momentum I needed. Missed a couple of key putts throughout the first 36 holes and didn't really give myself the best chance to get myself in contention. I'm relieved that today was the complete opposite."

Rahm's round got off to a solid start, with him being 1-under through eight holes. However, it was his 22-foot birdie putt on the par-3 ninth hole that ignited his momentum. This kickstarted a streak of four consecutive birdies, including two 4-foot putts on the par-4 11th and 12th holes after precise approaches.

He continued his strong performance with birdies on the par-5 15th and par-4 16th, the latter of which came from a 33 1/2-foot putt after missing the fairway.

Rahm's achievement at The Open adds to his impressive record, as he seeks his third major title. He previously triumphed at the 2021 U.S. Open and earned a green jacket in April.

Joining the list of golfers who have won both the Masters and the Open Championship in the same calendar year is an exclusive club. The esteemed members include Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, Mark O'Meara, and Tiger Woods.

In conclusion, Rahm's exceptional performance on Saturday propelled him to second place at The Open Championship. His flawless round of 8-under-par 63, including a remarkable birdie putt on the 18th hole, showcased his skill and determination. As he continues his pursuit of a third major title, Rahm joins a select group of golfers who have achieved success at both the Masters and the Open Championship in the same year.

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