'Number 2' Ram's Come-from-Behind Victory "Defeats Johnson in Overtime"... Woods "Can't Make It to the Third Match?"

BMW Championship Final Day 6-Under '2 Billion Jackpot', PO 2nd Place Leap, Johnson 1st Seed, Woods Misses 3rd Round Advancement

Yon Rahm is cheering after making a winning birdie on the first hole of the playoff in the final round of the BMW Championship. Olympia Fields, Illinois, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] World No. 2 Jon Rahm (Spain) defeated No. 1 Dustin Johnson (USA) in a playoff.

On the 31st (Korean time), at Olympia Fields Golf Club in Illinois, USA (par 70, 7,366 yards), during the final 4th round of the PGA Tour Playoffs (PO) 2nd event, the BMW Championship (total prize money $9.5 million). After making a daily best 6-under-par to tie with Johnson (USA) at 4-under-par 276, Rahm sank a remarkable 20.1-meter winning birdie putt on the first hole of the playoff resumed at the 18th hole (par 4). This marked his second win of the 2020 season following the Memorial Tournament in July, his fifth career victory, and earned him a winner's prize of $1.71 million (20.2 billion KRW).

Rahm's 6-under-par was the lowest score over 4 rounds among the 69 players in this tournament, which is impressive. He collected six birdies. He opened the scoring early with a birdie on the first hole (par 4), added another birdie on the 4th hole (par 4), and added 'stepping stone birdies' on the 10th and 12th holes in the back nine. On the 15th hole (par 4), his tee shot flew into a penalty area but luckily bounced off a tree and stayed in play. With consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th holes, he finished first with a one-stroke lead.

It was interesting that Johnson made a dramatic playoff by sinking a 13.1-meter birdie putt on the final 18th hole. Rahm then created a memorable match by making a longer birdie putt on the first playoff hole. Hailing from Barrika, Spain, he graduated from the prestigious golf program at Arizona State University in the USA. He gained attention by winning the Ben Hogan Award, given to the best amateur, in both 2015 and 2016, and turned professional in 2016. In January 2017, he caused a sensation by winning the Farmers Open immediately after turning pro.

Tiger Woods is holing out on the 18th hole on the final day of the BMW Championship. Olympia Fields, Illinois, USA = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Getty Images

He has also secured 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 'jackpot' of $5 million (5.9 billion KRW) by adding the $2 million bonus for finishing first in the 'Race to Dubai' to the prize money. This year, by winning the Memorial Tournament, he became the first Spanish player in 31 years since Seve Ballesteros (1989) to reach No. 1, drawing even more spotlight.

He was in a situation dreaming of revenge after losing the No. 1 spot to Johnson just two weeks ago. It is especially important that Rahm rose from 9th to 2nd place in the PO. The 3rd event, the Tour Championship, continuing on the 3rd of next month, will operate a 'stroke bonus' system: 1st place starts at 10-under-par, 2nd at 8-under-par, 3rd at 7-under-par, 4th at 6-under-par, 5th at 5-under-par, 6th to 10th at 4-under-par, 11th to 15th at 3-under-par, 16th to 20th at 2-under-par, 21st to 25th at 1-under-par, and 26th to 30th at even par. Rahm will start at 8-under-par.

Johnson, ranked 1st in the PO (10-under-par), is the most favored. Justin Thomas is 3rd, Webb Simpson, who did not participate in this tournament, is 4th, and Collin Morikawa is 5th. 'The returned golf emperor' Tiger Woods (all USA) ranked 63rd, failing to secure a ticket to the 3rd event, which only admits the top 30 players. Korea's Byeong-Hun An (29) performed well, finishing tied for 12th (3-over-par 283), but remained 33rd in the PO, leaving a bitter taste. Sungjae Im (22, both from CJ Logistics) tied for 56th (12-over-par 292) and advanced to the 3rd event ranked 9th in the PO.

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