Los Angeles (USA), Apr 13 (EFE) eight shots behind the leader.
Recent winner of the Augusta Masters and number one in the world, Rahm delivered a card of +1 (72 strokes) with three birdies and four bogeys.
The rain forced the suspension of the competition at the opening of this tournament held on Hilton Head Island (South Carolina, USA).
The first day of the RBC Heritage was able to resume later when the rain stopped but some golfers did not complete their round due to lack of light at the end of the afternoon and will have to finish it on Friday.
Rahm was able to complete his first round but on Friday he will have to improve to make the weekend cut.
For his part, Hovland shone with a -7 (64 shots) thanks to 7 birdies without bogeys.
The American Brian Harman follows closely with a -6, the same record as two golfers who could not finish their first day: the American Jimmy Walker with two holes still to play and the Englishman Aaron Rai with three still to play.
The Argentine Emiliano Grillo was the best Hispanic this Thursday with a -3 while the Colombian Nico Echavarría signed a +3.
