US Open: Rahm makes closing birdie after ball stolen

Jon Rahm had a solid start to his US Open title defence on Thursday but it was not without drama as he needed two balls to finish his closing hole when two kids felt his initial one would make for a nice souvenir. Rahm’s tee shot at the par-four 18th sailed way left and when […]

Jon Rahm had a solid start to his US Open title defence on Thursday but it was not without drama as he needed two balls to finish his closing hole when two kids felt his initial one would make for a nice souvenir.

Rahm’s tee shot at the par-four 18th sailed way left and when he got to where the ball was marked it was nowhere to be found as some onlookers figured it was better than anything they could buy from the merchandise tent that lines part of the hole.

“Somebody – I’m pretty sure I know who it was. I recognised the two kids that were running the opposite way with a smile on their face,” a laughing Rahm told reporters. “I am 100 per cent sure I saw the two kids that stole it.”

Rahm proved unflappable from the incident and was allowed to drop another ball and from there got to take another drop since a grandstand was in his way.

The Spanish world No 2 then stuck his approach shot to 21 feet and went on to drain the birdie putt for a one-under-par 69 that left him two shots back of the early leaders.

“I’m just really happy somebody spotted the ball first. We knew exactly where it was,” said Rahm.