The Open, Round 4 Notebook: Rahm ties for seventh, cites lack of production on par 5s

TROON, Scotland – Blame the par 5s.

Jon Rahm said after his final round Sunday at The Open that his inability to take advantage of Royal Troon’s three par 5s prevented him from making a serious run at the Claret Jug.

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Rahm tied for seventh at 1 under, eight shots behind winner Xander Schauffele. It was his best result in an otherwise frustrating major season but could’ve been more productive had he not shot 3 over on the par 5s this week.

“The one thing I keep thinking about all week is the fact that I didn't birdie a single par-5, which I can't remember the last time I played good golf, possibly finished top 10, and not birdied a single par-5,” the Legion XIII captain said after his 3-under 69. “In fact, I played them 3-over par. That's where I think basically where the tournament might have been for me.”

In fact, the par 5s have been problematic for him all season. In his 10 major rounds, he played the par 5s in even par. He tied for 45th in his Masters defense, shooting 9 over, and missed the cut at the PGA Championship. He didn’t play the U.S. Open because of a foot infection, a disappointing development since he thought his game was trending up at the time.

“Augusta in the wind conditions, those par-5s are not easy,” Rahm said. “PGA, I played two rounds and played terrible. The same applies to this week. Even the ones at times I had a chance, I just didn't make the putts. I had about three or four putts inside 10 feet and didn't make either of them, and then on Friday hit it in the water off the tee on 16.

“I don't think there's anything specific. You can maybe argue a couple of bad decisions off the tee, but it's mainly either the wrong swing at the wrong time or just not making the putts or just unfortunate situations. That's all.”

Rahm did make noise early in Sunday’s round when he was 4 under through his first seven holes. But he didn’t birdie the Postage Stamp par-3 eighth, his 11-foot putt taking longer to break than he expected. He was still within two shots of the lead before a bogey at the par-4 11th killed any hope.

“I thought if I could get close to lowest round of the week, which was 6-under, it would have been a great round of golf,” Rahm said. “That back nine, once you turned into that left-to-right wind, it wasn't helping as much as it has the last few days. It's a little bit longer. 

“Played good, just didn't strike those iron shots good enough to give myself good birdie looks. I had a lot of long putts for birdie, and then the few closer ones that I had I didn't make. But I did make two really lengthy par putts on the last two holes, so it all evens out.”

CATLIN’S WALK UP 18: LIV Golf reserve player John Catlin not only made the cut for the first time in four major starts, he tied for 16th after a spirited back nine in which he birdied the 13th, 15th and 17th holes.

It was such a fun week that not even a bogey on his final hole Sunday to finish with a 71 and 2 over for the tournament could spoil things.

“It's just so special,” said Catlin, who will replace Charles Howell III for the fourth consecutive tournament at next week’s LIV Golf UK. “It's just such an amazing event. I was walking up the last, and I was in that greenside bunker, and I still couldn't help but smile. It's just such a cool walk. It's so unique to the Open. That's something I'll always cherish. 

“It's unfortunate to finish off with a bogey. Would have liked to have finished off with a par or birdie, but yeah, it's an amazing week. It's an amazing event, and I hope to be back here every single year.”

BURMESTER’S MAJOR SEASON: Stinger GC’s Dean Burmester was hoping to finish inside the top 10 and earn a spot in next year’s Open. But an even-par 71 left him tied for 19th at 2 over.

“Ice cold putter,” Burmester said. “Unfortunately, the damage was done yesterday.”

Burmester had entered the weekend inside the top 5, but Saturday’s 76 in tough weather conditions ultimately destroyed his hopes.

Burmester made three major appearances this season, finishing inside the top 15 of the PGA Championship to earn an exemption for next year’s tournament. He’ll need to find other avenues into the U.S. Open and Open.

“There was some good,” Burmester said of his major season, “but it was disappointing. Always disappointing when you don’t win one.”

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