Jon Rahm cracks underrated joke after taking 2023 PGA Tour earnings to $4.1m

Jon Rahm reflected on his memorable expletive-laden rant after taking his PGA Tour earnings in 2023 to north of $4m after claiming The American Express.

Ben Smith

23 Jan 2023

Jon Rahm cracks underrated joke after taking 2023 PGA Tour earnings to $4.1m — Jon Rahm cracks underrated joke after taking 2023 PGA Tour earnings to $4…

Jon Rahm says he was happy he "won the putting contest this year" after he claimed his second PGA Tour win in 2023.

Spaniard Rahm put in a sensational performance once again as he claimed The American Express after holding off the 23-year-old rookie Davis Thompson.

The two players were tied with three holes to play but Rahm, 28, previously alluded to knowing what to do "down the stretch".

Rahm managed to make birdie on the par-5 16th hole to pull ahead of Thompson and despite hitting his tee shot on the 72nd hole in the fairway bunker he produced a remarkable shot to close the door.

The story could've been different as Thompson - playing in only his 20th start - almost drained a 48ft putt for birdie on 17, his ball glancing off the pin.

Related: Pin in or out?

Rahm told the media:

"I don't have much to say. I'm just going to say that I'm glad I came back and won the putting contest this year. That's all I can say."

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The Spanish World No.3 was referencing the comments he made during this very tournament last year.

An expletive-laden rant was caught on film in which the 2020 U.S. Open champion blasted the set-up of the tournament - which is played over a trio of courses - and described it as a "putting contest".

Rahm claimed he felt bad tee shots should've been punished more and the set-up was too easy.

He said he wanted to put that behind him before the start of the week.

The victory marked Rahm's fourth win in six starts having previously claimed The Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

Rahm also claimed two wins on the DP World Tour to close out 2022.

He added:

In my mind I feel like I can get a lot better. I feel like that's the mentality I should have. Again, I work very hard to do what I do. I could find mistakes in every single round I've played. Very few times I would say I've played a flawless round.

Elsewhere, American Xander Schauffele shook off a back injury and finished two shots behind Rahm.

His final round was highlighted by an albatross.

Schauffele said:

"I was trying to just hit it -- I was off a pretty good upslope, so I just tried to hit a 4-iron pretty much at it and have it turn toward the centre wanting to get maximum distance.

"Kind of played it out to the right. Hit it really solid. Didn't say anything in the air because I was a little bit worried. So it was nice when I saw it hit on ground and then I actually saw it go in. So that was pretty special."

Despite Rahm's win he didn't topple Rory McIlroy as the World No. 1.

McIlroy will make his 2023 in Dubai on the DP World Tour this week.

He will be teeing it up with a host of LIV Golf League players.

Next page: Pro makes a snowman, then rebounds with incredible birdie