Rahm claims 2nd Tour title with win at CareerBuilder

Spain’sJon Rahm birdied the fourth playoff hole to beat Andrew Landry andcapture his second US PGA Tour title at the CareerBuilder Challenge inCalifornia.Rahm, who became number two yesterday, had five birdiesin his bogey-free five-under 67 on the Stadium Course in La Quinta toseize the clubhouse lead on 22-under par 266.But Landry, seeking afirst PGA Tour title, rolled in an 11-foot birdie putt at the 72nd holeto cap a four-under 68 and force the playoff.Both players parred the first three playoff holes – although each had birdie chances to win.Rahmfinally broke through when they returned to the 18th for the third timein the playoff. After finding the fairway at each of the first threeplayoff holes he was in the right rough, but still reached the green intwo.After he rolled in his birdie putt, Landry missed his from a similar distance on the other side of the hole.“It’san amazing feeling... to play the way I did and give myself a chance,”said the 23-year-old Rahm, who has four victories worldwide in the pastyear.“Obviously props to Andrew. To birdie 18 from the right rough, having to birdie it, that’s a heck of an accomplishment.“Eitherone of us would have been a deserving champion,” added Rahm, whodefends his first PGA Tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open at TorreyPines starting on Thursday.“I never thought I was going to be atthis point in my life right now,” he said, adding that it was “hard tobelieve” that he would move past three-time major winner Jordan Spiethinto second place in the world rankings led by American Dustin Johnson.Rahm, the highest ranked player in the field, opened the week inimpressive style with a 10-under par 62. He couldn’t maintain that pace,and after a third-round 70 was two strokes behind rookie Austin Cookheading into the final round.He was tied for the lead at 20-underafter rolling in an 18-foot putt for his third birdie of the day at the10th, and kept the chasing pack at bay with back-to-back birdies at 13and 14 that moved him to 22-under.Par-5 problemsDespite hisimpressive ball-striking, Rahm missed opportunities to give himself moreof a cushion. At the par-five 16th he followed up an impressive teeshot with a second shot that left him short of the green. His thirdshot gave him seven feet for a birdie but he missed that – unable topick up strokes at any of the Stadium Course’s three par-fives. In themeantime, Landry was putting together a round that included five birdiesand a bogey. While Cook’s bid for a second PGA Tour title wasdoomed by a pair of double-bogeys, a string of other players threatenedthe lead.John Huh carded a six-under par 66 to head a group sharingthird on 268 that also included Canadian Adam Hadwin (68) and AmericanMartin Piller (70). Kevin Chappell’s 67 included four birdies in arow from the ninth through the 12th and put him on 269, tied with fellowAmerican Scott Piercy who carded a 70.Jason Kokrak birdied fivestraight holes on the back nine to get to 21-under but closed with abogey and a double-bogey in a 69 that saw him tied on 18-under 270 withSam Saunders (64) and Brandon Harkins (70).