Just Moments After Scripting History, Jon Rahm Passionately Downplays Monumental Record With a Shower of Respect

Published 07/22/2023, 3:41 PM EDT

The fight for the season’s final major championship is heating up. While Brian Harman looks poised to win it come Sunday, some of the best in the business are shooting their shot to keep themselves in contention.

Among them is a certain Jon Rahm, who came off a terrific early third round at Hoylake. While the Spaniard was staring at the lower echelons of the table, his record score at the links course has thrown him right into contention. But is his achievement worth more than major championships?

Jon Rahm reflects on his record score of 63

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Having scored 74 and 70 in the opening two rounds, Rahm barely made it to the weekend. A title challenge seemed like a far cry, which undoubtedly released any pressure from the two-time major champion.

Beginning early on Saturday, Rahm decided to keep his head down for a barrage of birdies. The World No. 3 produced a treasured performance, where he birdied eight holes without losing a stroke in a span of 18 holes.

The round of 63 from Rahm is the course record at Royal Liverpool Golf Course. It also helped the former World No. 1 to jump 37 places for a T2 spot, which remains a precarious position due to the later tee timings.

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An elated Rahm, who idolized the late Seve Ballesteros, was later informed about his idol’s inability to shoot 63 in his entire career. But staying humble out of respect for the three-time Open Championship winner, the 28-year-old claimed he would rather not score 63 to emulate his idol’s accolades.

“I’d rather win three times and never shoot 63,” Rahm said with a laugh.

Indeed, while the late Ballesteros made history with his trophy-laden career, the Spaniard inspired many others like Rahm to follow in his footsteps. Has ‘Rahmbo’ made his hero proud?

Is Rahm playing his best golf right now?

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Before the start of this season, Rahm stood at seven PGA TOUR wins, with a solitary major championship under his belt. But the Spaniard has emerged with all guns blazing, winning a further five events in this campaign.

Importantly, among those wins was the illustrious Green Jacket, which he received upon securing the Masters title earlier this year.

Rahm has continued to make strides with his golf, but the relentless schedule has put his consistency into question. However, the two-time major champion believed in his form, which eventually proved dividends on Saturday.

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The question remains – Can Rahm mount a title challenge after his record-setting heroics? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Sharan Nair is a Senior Golf Writer at EssentiallySports. He constantly covers the ongoing PGA vs LIV Golf tussle as it progresses. With over 600 articles to his name, Sharan masters the sport with his in-depth knowledge and research that is reflected in his meticulous coverage of all the Majors.

Just Moments After Scripting History, Jon Rahm Passionately Downplays Monumental Record With a Shower of Respect

Jon Rahm reflects on his record score of 63

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Is Rahm playing his best golf right now?