In nine career rounds at the DP World Tour Championship Jon Rahm is averaging 67.7 and today he opened with a bogey-free 66 to sit in a third place, two strokes behind Rory McIlroy and three off the lead held by Mike Lorenzo-Vera.
The Spaniard, who won on his DP World Tour Championship debut two years ago, has an aggregate score of 39-under-par through his nine rounds on the Earth course, with birdies or eagles on 31.5% of the holes he’s played so far.
What’s even more remarkable is that he’s barely hit a golf shot since he won the Open de Espana in the first week of October.
“That was really good,” said Rahm. “With six weeks of not competing – and of those six weeks most of them were without touching the clubs, I’m really pleased.
“I could tell how rested I was mentally because on some holes — I never lost patience, I never really got down on myself and stayed with that positive attitude. I’m hoping I can keep playing solid and keep it for the next three days.” – Jon Rahm
Of the five players in contention to win the Race to Dubai this week Rahm has started the strongest.
Race leader Bernd Wiesbeger shot a 2-under 70, Tommy Fleetwood a 67, Shane Lowry a 73 and Matt Fitzpatrick a 71.
Rahm will tee off in the penultimate group at 12:40 alongside Tom Lewis in Round 2 on Friday.
