Rahm claims hard-fought Mexico Open success

Jon Rahm carded a two-under 69 in the final round to secure a one-shot victory in the Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta.

The 27-year-old Spaniard held off late charges from American duo Tony Finau and Brandon Wu to finish on 17-under 267 and claim his seventh PGA Tour title.

Finau and Wu closed with eight-under 63s but had to settle for second place alongside compatriot Kurt Kitayama after Rahm held firm under pressure in the closing stages.

World No 2 Rahm started the day with a two-shot cushion over Kitayama and Cameron Champ but five successive pars to open his round saw his advantage halved by early birdies from the American pair.

The Spaniard, who was playing steady, risk-free golf out in front, produced a couple of superb iron shots to notch back-to-back birdies at the sixth and seventh, although these were matched by Kitayama and Champ.

The wheels fell off for Champ at the eighth, though, as he pushed his tee shot right to the water's edge, from where he hacked out and then hooked his third left of the green on his way to a triple-bogey seven.

Kitayama faltered when he found water off the 10th tee for the third day in a row, leading to a bogey, which Rahm matched after missing from inside six feet for only the second time this week.

Meanwhile, Wu, who had eagled the sixth, was making rapid progress up the leaderboard and he joined Rahm in the lead on 16 under when he rolled in a 25-foot putt at the 16th for his sixth birdie of the day.

Kitayama then made it a three-way tie for the lead with a birdie at the par-five 12 - where Rahm could only make a par - despite a wayward third shot.

Video: Boris Becker (Evening Standard)

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