LOUISVILLE-. Jon Rahm He slammed his 7 iron into the fairway, after another shot that landed in an unwanted place, during a day of abundant errors.
But about half an hour later, Rahm was smiling. He had concluded Thursday’s opening round at the PGA Championship with a respectable card of 70 strokes, one under par.
Not bad for a day full of wrong drivers, tantrums and too many early bogeys. The red numbers gave the Spaniard some hope, after so many frustrations.
“How many times have you seen someone start one, two or three down and then do what they need to?” Rahm asked. “I think every time someone wins a tournament there is a day when he is down, but the other rounds are good.”
The Biscayan, two-time major champion, overcame four bogeys in his first six holes and a day in which he ranked number 121 with his bogey, among 156 participants.
But he leaves Valhalla with a foundation on which he can build something more interesting.
He actually saved par after the approach shot at the 16th that fell short and caused his displeasure. He slammed the 7-iron into the grass.
He made birdies on the 17th and 18th to finish six holes in four under par.
He played the first nine at three over par and the last nine at four under.
He had both to celebrate and to meditate ahead of Friday, the day when rain is forecast.
“I need to think about what happened,” he acknowledged. “I have had mental errors.
Source: AP
