Spain’s Jon Rahm won his first major championship this Sunday when he claimed the 2021 U.S. Open title. He did so in dramatic fashion, hitting two clutch birdie putts on his last two holes to grab a one shot lead over Louis Oosthuizen.
Oosthuizen, who hit a clutch eagle putt the day before to grab a share of the lead, certainly made it interesting. He was consistent on a very tumultuous day and only truly had one mistake, which was a wayward shot on 17 that cost him a penalty stroke. The South African would ultimately finish at five under 67, just one shot back of Rahm.
Jon Rahm, 26, became the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Open and fourth to win a major. The victory comes just over two weeks after he was forced to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament due to a positive COVID test after his round three outing. At the time of his forced withdrawal, Rahm held a nearly insurmountable six-shot lead.
“I’m a big believer in karma,” Rahm said in his post-tournament interview. “After what happened a couple weeks ago, I stayed really positive knowing big things were coming. I didn’t know what it was going to be. I just knew we were coming to a special place. I know I got my breakthrough win here. It’s a very special place for my family.”
Rahm’s first career PGA Tour victory came at Torrey Pines back in 2017. He said that the San Diego weather reminds him of his native Northern Spain.
The victory also came on Rahm’s first Father’s Day. He celebrated the victory with his wife Kelley and their two-month-old son Kepa on the course.