After a T-5 @WMPhoenixOpen, @ASU golfer Jon Rahm told @pedrogomezESPN about his future plans http://t.co/QVW2AGk6Sb
? ESPN Golf (@ESPNGolf) February 2, 2015
They will sure will have plenty to talk about regarding Rahm's 12-under 272 (70-68-66-68). He came up just short in his quest to be the first amateur to win a PGA Tour event since Phil Mickelson won the Northern Telecom Open in 1991, but that certainly doesn't diminish what happened during the week. He hit 51-of-72 greens in regulation and had an average drive of more than 300 yards.
"I just have to thank all the ASU fans here," said Rahm. "All my friends came out to watch me play. It was unbelievable. It was just great to hear so many Sun Devils cheering me. Not only every Sun Devil, I have to thank the Thunderbirds and the Waste Management giving me the opportunity to play. It was just unbelievable. Thank you, thank you to all the Thunderbirds."
The only amateur in the field of 132, two-time honorable mention All-American had his way with the par-71, 7,266-yard TPC Scottsdale layout. The 20-year-old became the first amateur to finish in the top-five of a PGA TOUR event since Chris Wood (fifth) at the 2008 British Open and Justin Rose (tied for fourth) at the 1998 British Open.
Rahm (born in November of 1994), who has won four collegiate tournaments in his three years at ASU, posts a 70.87 stroke average in 31 career events (95 rounds).
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OTHER SUN DEVILS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE: Other Sun Devils to compete in the Phoenix Open while still in college are Phil Mickelson (1991/T-32), Braxton Marquez (2001/78th), Phil Mickelson (1989/missed cut) and Ki Taek Lee (2014/missed cut).
WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO DO: Here’s a look at the last three amateurs to win a PGA TOUR event, and note that last sponsor exemption to win on TOUR was Lee Westwood at the 2010 FedEx St. Jude Classic, while Phil Mickelson is the last amateur sponsor exemption to win on TOUR at the 1991 Northern Telecom Open.
LAST THREE AMATEURS TO WIN A PGA TOUR EVENT:
Phil Mickelson: 1991 Northern Telecom Open | 1 stroke over Tom Purtzer, Bob Tway
Scott Verplank: 1985 Western Open | def. Jim Thorpe in a playoff
Doug Sanders: 1956 Canadian Open | def. Dow Finsterwald in a playoff