Few, very few laps like the first of the Estrella Damm NA Andalucía Masters signed this Thursday are reminiscent of Jon Rahm on the European Tour, where he has tremendous records. Until this new edition of the Valderrama appointment, the Biscayan has only missed two cuts in 17 regular tournaments of the European circuit played. The third will be this Friday if he cannot turn around the +7 (78 strokes) registered. Herculean task.
Even the most painted have a bad day. And Rahmbo’s was for dogs. Also in the less indicated field, sharper even than usual due to gusts of strong and changing wind that did not give margin for error. He did not take a street until 17 (he left on 10); greens, rather few. Three bogeys in the first four marked what was going to be the trend of the return. The public gathered around his game, which he shared with the Canarian Cabrera Bello and the English Fitzpatrick, increased as the morning progressed, but it was hardly noticed. He had little to put in his mouth on that side.
The cheers went to Cabrera Bello, who remains touched by the wand after his redeeming victory in Madrid last week. On the 11th came the first birdie of a very orderly round. He would add another three to his card at 14, 1 and 3, with a single bogey at 15. 68 shots hitting the ball very well and avoiding practically all the places one should not go from Valderrama to -3 . One of the leader in the clubhouse after the first turn, the Frenchman Guerrier with -4. More sugar, sweeter.
The good march of his compatriot could have fed Rahm, but it did not. The double bogey at 18, for +5, condemned him to a second nine holes of survival. His body language, somewhat timid, absent the momentum that well channeled makes him a capable golfer of anything, did not invite us to think of a comeback. But Jon struggled the last half of the round, cleaner off the tee, and saved eight pairs. With the bogey of the seventh the account was at +7.
Ahead will have a lot of work this Friday. It seems a bit broken after a marathon season, that of his fatherhood, the first child and the 17 weeks as world number one, a condition that can be seriously threatened if he does not play on the weekend. The good news is that the one in this situation is someone who has the tools to reverse it.. Rahm does not drain the package: “The fault is one hundred percent mine. The field is what it is,” he assured after signing the card. “) He has gotten into trouble, but he knows how to get out of it.
Check here the complete classifications of the Estrella Damm NA Andalucía Masters