Jon Rahm beat Dustin Johnson on the first hole of a play-off in a dramatic climax to the BMW Championship at Olympia Fields in Chicag
The 25-year-old Spaniard looked all set to be crowned champion after a six-under 64 left him in the clubhouse on four under par and seemingly uncatchable. But Johnson, who won last week by 11 shots, birdied 15 and then holed a curling 43-foot putt on 18 to force a play-off.
Rahm then holed an even longer putt – measured at 66 feet – on the same green in the play-off while Johnson’s 33-feet effort finished inches short.
“I still can’t believe what just happened the last hour of play,” Rahm said. “That stretch of waiting for DJ, him making the putt, going in the play-off, me making the putt, then trying to stay mentally in it just in case he made the last putt. It’s been a rollercoaster, but so much fun.”
Rahm came from three shots behind going into the day after Johnson was tied for the lead with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama heading into Sunday’s round. Rahm made back-to-back birdies at 15 and 16 in a sparkling round to set the clubhouse target. His only dropped shot of the weekend was a one-stroke penalty for picking up his ball without having marked it on Saturday.
Johnson, who retained his world No.1 spot with his runner up finish, was sanguine about his defeat, saying: “I was kind of laughing at my putt, because it was one of those where you’re not really thinking you’re going to make it. I played an unbelievable putt, got in the play-off and then Jon made an even more ridiculous putt on top of me.”
Chile’s Joaquin Niemann and Matsuyama finished tied third on two under. Matt Fitzpatrick ended four shots off the winning score at level par after a final-day 67, while Rory McIlroy finished on three over after a 71. Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton were a shot further back on four over.
The top 30 players in the points table have qualified for the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta, starting on Thursday. Tiger Woods, who needed a top-five finish, is among those to miss out.
Jon Rahm’s Winning Gear
Driver: TaylorMade SIM (10.5)
Fairway Woods: TaylorMade SIM (15, 19)
Irons: TaylorMade P750 (4-PW)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG Hi Toe (52°), MG2 (56°, 60°)
Putter: TaylorMade Spider X chalk
Ball: TaylorMade TP5