Ram "World No.1 in Spanish Nationality After 31 Years"... What About Woods?

Final Day of Memorial Tournament: 3-Over Par '3-Stroke Victory', Woods Loses 4 Strokes to Tie for 40th "My Back Is Fine"

Yon Rahm (right) is taking a commemorative photo with tournament host Jack Nicklaus immediately after winning the Memorial Tournament. Dublin, Ohio, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "After 31 years."

Jon Rahm (Spain) secured a commanding 3-stroke victory (9-under 279). On the 20th (Korean time), at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, USA (par 72, 7,456 yards), he recorded a 3-over on the final day of the PGA Tour Memorial Tournament (total prize money $9.3 million), earning his first win of the 2020 season and his fourth career victory. The winner's prize was $1,674,000 (20.17 billion KRW). Most notably, it is big news that a Spanish player has risen to world No. 1 for the first time since Seve Ballesteros in 1989.

▲ Rahm: "I am number 1" = Born in Barrika, Spain, he graduated from the prestigious golf school Arizona State University in the USA. He is an all-around athlete who enjoys soccer, canoeing, and kung fu. He is the only player to win the Ben Hogan Award, given to the best amateur, two years in a row in 2015 and 2016. After turning professional in 2016, he made a splash by winning the Farmers Open in January 2017. He also claimed victories at the CareerBuilder Challenge in January 2018 and the Zurich Classic in April last year.

He has also swept up six wins on the European Tour. Last year, he notably won the DP World Tour Championship, the final event of the 2019 European Tour season, in November, earning a $3 million prize plus a $2 million 'Race to Dubai' bonus, hitting a $5 million (60.17 billion KRW) jackpot. Despite several near misses, including a runner-up finish at the Farmers Open in January and third place at the World Golf Championships (WGC) Mexico Championship in February, he had been frustrated by narrowly missing out on wins.

Starting the day with a 4-stroke lead, he recorded 2 birdies, 3 bogeys, and 1 double bogey. He gained momentum with 'stepping stone birdies' on holes 5 and 7. Although he gave up strokes with a bogey on hole 10 (par 4), a double bogey on hole 11 (par 5), and bogeys on holes 14 and 16, these scores did not affect his victory. Rahm was disappointed that his 10-meter chip shot birdie on hole 16 (par 4) was changed to a bogey after his ball moved before the shot, resulting in a two-stroke penalty. Ryan Palmer (USA) finished second at 6-under 282.

Tiger Woods is making a bunker shot on the 7th hole during the final day of the Memorial Tournament. Dublin, Ohio, USA = Photo by Getty Images/Multibits

▲ Woods: "What about the back pain?" = Woods lost 4 strokes and finished tied for 40th place (6-over 294). He made 3 birdies but also 5 bogeys, including a critical double bogey on hole 7 (par 4) when his third shot landed in a bunker. Attention is needed as he reportedly felt strain in his back during the Genesis Invitational in February. Despite dedicating five months to rehabilitation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, his condition remains uncertain.

This is why experts are focusing on whether Woods' injury will recur. Woods expressed optimism, saying he was "satisfied to complete all four rounds" and that "although I didn't play well, my shot feel was good." Regarding his participation in the upcoming World Golf Championships (WGC) FedEx St. Jude Invitational (total prize money $10.5 million) on the 31st, he left a lingering note by saying, "Let's see soon."

Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) struggled with a 6-over performance, finishing tied for 32nd place (4-over 292), failing to maintain his No. 1 ranking. He was hampered by a triple bogey on hole 5 (par 5) after twice landing in the mall. Defending champion Patrick Cantlay (USA) joined this group. From Korea, Kim Si-woo (25) performed well, finishing tied for 18th (2-over 290), while Kang Sung-hoon (33, both from CJ Logistics) placed 73rd (16-over 304).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.