HOYLAKE (England) – Kelley Rahm waited until he had scored to give him a hug and a smooch after he shot an 8-under 63 on Royal Liverpool, Saturday. He broke the course record at a British Open venue by two strokes.
She wore a ski cap with a yellow face of happiness on the front. But it was nothing compared to the huge smile on her husband’s face.
Rahm, who climbed the leaderboard after seven birdies on his last 10 holes, told the media: “Today I felt invincible.”
In the first two rounds Rahm had lost his focus, became frustrated and sunk himself into a deep hole. He shot a 3-over 74 and finished T-89 at the 151st British Open. Still, he made too many unforced mistakes during his Friday 70. He started the day 12 strokes back of the leader Brian Harman.
George Duncan, who won the 1920 Open Championship (13 shots back), was the only man to come from behind after 36 holes and win a major. Rahm is 12 shots behind Harman at the start of today’s round.
Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf July 22, 2020
Rahm smiled at himself, saying: “I look frustrated a lot.”
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Not on this day, at England’s second oldest seaside links. The course was softer than usual on this day, when the wind had weakened overnight and after morning showers and rain had dampened the hard ground. In an effort to play more aggressively he shot the lowest round he has ever shot at a major. It was also the 14 thround of 63 in Open history.
Rahm explained that the goal was to give himself the best chance possible. “Always think about another birdie when you make a birdie. It’s all you can really do.”
Rahm had a par at the par-5 5th and then four consecutive birdies starting at the 9. He displayed great patience up until the stretch between Nos. The holes between 11 and 14 were played against the wind.
He said that “the wind conditions are what caused the course to change a bit.”
Rahm trusted his own game. He knew his game was sharp, and that all he had to do was minimize the mistakes.
He said, “I knew my capabilities.” “I was frustrated, because I had made mistakes in the shots. It was over. It was a big deal. I had to give up my chances at expensive major championships. The player who was there yesterday is the same as today. Not one difference.”
It didn’t help that the putts began to fall. He made an 8-foot par at the par-5 15 th and then a 34 foot birdie that, according to him, could have been three feet beyond the hole had it not hit the bottom. He then cleaned up on the par-5 18 th where he made bogeys both in the first and second rounds. He was fuming, but this time he sank the birdie as if it were never in doubt. Home in 30 seconds and an historic effort on moving-day that propelled him to second place, three strokes behind the leader when he entered clubhouse.
Rahm was aware that the previous course record for a competitive round had been 65. This had been shot by Harman a day before. He blitzed Hoylake with 63. Not even his Spanish idol Seve Ballesteros could match this score during his great championship records. Rahm wants to make British Open history, but not with that score.
“I would rather win three more times,” he said referring to Ballesteros Claret Jug haul and “never shoot 63.”
