The first event of the 2023 PGA calendar season is now in the books with Jon Rahm of Barrika, Spain victorious. Rahm shot a score of -27 to beat Collin Morikawa of the United States by two strokes to win the Tournament of Champions.
Rahm was spectacular in the final round on Sunday from the Kapalua Plantation Course in Maui. He shot a score of ten-under-par 63. Rahm birdied the second, fourth, fifth, sixth, ninth, 12th, 13th, 14th, and 18th holes, eagled the 15th hole, and bogeyed the first hole. The fourth round eagle was one of two eagles Rahm had over the weekend. He also eagled the fifth hole in the first round. Over the first three rounds, Rahm had a first round score of nine-under-par 64, a second round score of two-under-par 71, and a third round score of six-under-par 67.
Rahm and Morikawa are both major champions. Rahm won the 2021 United States Open. Morikawa, a native of Los Angeles, California, won the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 British Open. Rahm meanwhile qualified for the Tournament of Champions by winning the 2022 Mexico Championship.
It was a strong week for The Sporting Base. That is because we had Rahm as one of the three golfers who were expected to contend for the title on the weekend. A year ago he shot a four-rounds score of -33, and was second behind Cameron Smith of Australia.
This is the first of two PGA events in Hawaii. The second event starts Thursday in Honolulu with the 2023 Sony Open at the Wai’alae Country Club.
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