Jon Rahm became the first Spaniard to top the Official World Golf Ranking since Seve Ballesteros, securing the summit with a hard‑fought win at the Memorial Tournament on a brutal Sunday at Muirfield Village.
A lead halved, then a moment of magic
He carried an eight‑shot cushion to the turn. The course bit back, and Ryan Palmer cut the gap to three strokes with three holes to play. On the par‑3 16th, Rahm found deep grass behind the green while Palmer faced a 12‑foot birdie look.
From trouble he played a flop shot that landed softly on the fringe, rolled straight, and dropped for birdie. A ferocious fist pump followed. Palmer took bogey at the 17th, and the coronation arrived a hole later.
Ten titles, one summit reached fast
The victory was Rahm’s 10th career win and fourth on the PGA Tour. He finished at 9‑under par, three strokes clear of Palmer, despite a closing 75 — the highest final round by a Memorial champion since Roger Maltbie’s 76 in 1976.
His tee‑to‑green control was exceptional all week, gaining 15.5 strokes on the field. The 3.87 strokes gained per round in that category stood as the best single‑event figure of his Tour career to that point.
“I still can’t believe it, I’m not going to lie,” Rahm said afterwards. A two‑shot penalty assessed after a ball‑movement review didn’t alter the margin, nor the feeling. “It’s not going to take anything away from today.”
The Spaniard reached World No.1 roughly four years after turning professional — the third‑fastest climb in ranking history — placing his name where only his idol Ballesteros had carried it before.
