Jon Rahm Erases Poor Start, Plays His Way Into Contention at Wentworth

Rahm was three-over through three holes on Friday, but got hot and carded a 67 that has him squarely in the mix heading into the weekend.

SURREY, England — The second round here at Wentworth didn’t start well for Jon Rahm. It started with a double-bogey 6 on the first hole and then a bogey on the third hole.

But he would sign for a 5-under 67 at the end of the day. It was an adventure.

Jon Rahm won the Masters and finished runner-up at the British Open. He's in contention again at Wentworth / USA Today

On the fourth tee, the Spaniard confidently told his caddie, Adam Hayes, to forget about simply making the cut and that he'd try to get back to even par before the 10th hole. 

Rahm then hit what he called a perfect 3-wood and a perfect 7-iron to set up an eagle. When he birdied the ninth hole, Rahm stood on the 10th tee even for the round, just as he'd planned.

“Obviously extremely pleased, if you're going to get a start like that you might as well make them early on, so you have time to make it up,” Rahm said. “None of those swings felt bad, maybe the shot choice on one wasn't quite right, should probably have picked a shot that isn't getting to the bunker if I hit it right.”

The eagle on the fourth gave Rahm a little extra confidence, and he rode that wave while playing the remaining 15 holes at 8 under.

Finishing 6 under at the halfway point, Rahm is only three shots off the lead held by Masahiro Kawamura, Thomas Detry and Adrian Meronk.

“I'm trying to have back the feel I had early in the year with the irons, that's the best I've hit my irons ever,” Rahm said of his Ryder Cup preparations. “Today I hit some really good iron shots that were similar – it's things that to the naked eye might look very very small but can feel quite different when you're standing over the ball in a tournament.”

Rahm was on a torrid run starting at the CJ Cup last October and for the next six events, he won three times at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the American Express and the Genesis Invitational.

Later in the spring he would win his second major, the Masters, and finish runner-up at the Open at Hoylake. This week at Wentworth, he's in the hunt again.

“I've been close here before so hopefully I can put another good round together and give myself a good chance on Sunday,” Rahm said. “You want to be in the mix having those competition rounds close to the Ryder Cup.”