By Staff and Wire Reports at Global Golf Post

A year ago, Jon Rahm left the CareerBuilder Challenge as the 137th-ranked player in the world.

 

Now, Rahm will be the second-ranked player in the world, heading back to Torrey Pines where everything started last year, riding the momentum of a victory in the California desert, his fourth victory worldwide in the past 12 months.

While no one will confuse the four-day birdie binge around Palm Springs with a major championship, there is no denying Rahm’s spectacular ascent into the game’s elite. He looks as if he’s been on Tour for a decade, handling Sunday at the Stadium Course with a steady hand.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” Rahm said of his second Tour win. “I had a good feeling going into today.”

 

In the playoff, Rahm and Andrew Landry had multiple chances to close it out before Rahm did, playing the 18th hole for the fourth time on Sunday.

“Either one of us would have been a deserving champion,” Rahm said.

Landry showed his mettle by holing an 11-foot birdie putt on the 72nd green to force the playoff after seeing putts on the previous two greens narrowly miss.

Until now, Landry may have been best known for shooting 66 in the first round of the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont and hanging among the leaders until the closing holes on Sunday when Dustin Johnson won.

 

Rahm’s ride, meanwhile, has reordered the world ranking.

“It’s hard to believe I’m passing Jordan Spieth, a three-time major champion,” Rahm said. “I said it many times I never thought I would be at this place at this point in my life.”

 

Driver: TaylorMade M4 (9.5 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Green 75X

 

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade M3 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Green 75X

Irons: TaylorMade P-790 (3 iron), TaylorMade P-750 (4-PW)
Shafts: Project X 6.5

Wedges: TaylorMade Milled Grind (52 and 56 degrees), TaylorMade “Hi-Toe” (60 degrees)
Shafts: Project X 6.5

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Red

Golf Ball: TaylorMade TP5x

Republished with permission from Global Golf Post