Jon Rahm Climbs Close to Lead at Spanish Open

Jon Rahm of Spain moved within two shots of the lead at the Spanish Open after posting an impressive six-under-par 65 in Saturday’s third round. The three-time former champion made a significant gain, closing the gap on leader Angel Hidalgo, who shot a 68 to remain at 13 under for the tournament. Rahm will compete alongside Hidalgo in Sunday’s final pairing at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

Following Rahm, fellow Spaniard David Puig stands at 11 under after also carding a 65 while England’s Joe Dean ranked 184th in the world and U.S. Ryder Cup player Patrick Reed sit on eight under. Rahm faced hurdles entering the tournament after appealing fines from the DP World Tour for participating in Saudi Arabian-funded LIV Golf events.

The 29-year-old two-time major champion must compete in four events each season to maintain his membership in the European-based circuit which is essential for consideration for the 2025 Ryder Cup team. So far, he has played in the Paris Olympics which counts as a DP World Tour event and has signed up for the upcoming Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland and the Andalucia Masters in Sotogrande, Spain.

With the DP World Tour season concluding in November, Jon Rahm’s strong performance at the Spanish Open keeps him in contention for a potential title while navigating the complexities of his tour commitments. The final round promises to be competitive as Rahm seeks to reclaim his championship form in front of a home crowd.