Rahm Defeats Johnson At Play-off To Win BMW Championship

Jon Rahm has won the 2020 BMW Championship after finishing at 4 under par and beating world number one, Dustin Johnson on the first hole after the other man forced the game into a play-off. Rahm enjoyed a bogey-free Sunday and already looked to secure the win until Johnson shot a long-range putt to win the 18th hole. This forced play into a game of sudden death between the two top-ranked players in the world. But Rahm was able to play a convincing 66-foot shot to emerge the winner of the tournament.

Rahm entered the game three shots behind the tied lead, Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama, but soon took the lead, thanks to his fine play, and strengthened his position after making birdies at the 15th and 16th hole. Everyone was sure of Rahm winning the tournament at this point, not until Johnson made a birdie at the 15th hole.

The American then made a putt at the 18th hole from 43 feet away, a shot that even he described as “unbelievable”. This eventually forced the game into a play-off. But Rahm was quick to finish what he had started and wasted no time in firing a 66-foot shot into the same 18th hole, ending the game and earning him his second victory in six weeks, after winning the Memorial Tournament back in July.

For the Spaniard, the tournament was quite an eventful one and he was quick to rise to the top, after finishing Thursday’s round at number 51. His only bogey this weekend was on Saturday after he picked his ball without marking it, forcing a one-stroke penalty. Other than that, Rahm was all-round impressive and finished the tournament with a record shot.

He admitted, after the game, that he foresaw the round entering a play-off, saying, “Knowing DJ and how good he has been playing, I expected nothing else. I was fully confident it was going to come into a play-off and hoping to win it.” He is currently second in the FedEx Cup Standings, as Johnson maintains the lead.

Speaking after the game, Johnson described is 43-foot putt as “unbelievable”, explaining the shot as “one of those where you’re not really thinking you’re going to make it.” He shares the top spot with Rahm after also finishing at 4 under. Chilean Joaquin Niemann finished at 2 under together with Matsuyama, while Tony Finau ended the tournament at 1 under par.

Written by: Leon Osamor