John Rahm ended his wait for a first win since last year’s Masters with victory on the final hole of the LIV Golf UK event at JCB Golf and Country Club in Staffordshire.
The Spaniard was tied on 13 under par with his Legion XIII team-mate Tyrrell Hatton at the 18th but the Englishman’s three-putt bogey handed Rahm the title after he made par.
Overnight leader Andy Ogletree had looked in pole position with birdies on the opening two holes but consecutive double bogeys on the back nine ended his challenge.
Hatton’s disappointing finish saw him tied for second with Cameron Smith and Joaquin Niemann, who both birdied their final holes to end a shot behind Rahm on 12 under par.
Rahm has finished in the top 10 of each LIV competition he has entered since its formation but had to withdraw from the Houston event last month with a toe injury, which also cost him a place at the US Open.
The 29-year-old said victory would fulfil his son’s request of returning home with a trophy.
“First of all I’ve got to give a lot of credit to Tyrrell too, he’s a fantastic player and you never want to see it end like that,” Rahm said.
“I almost wish we had to get it done in a play-off.
“It’s just emotional, you know. It hasn’t been the easiest year for our family. Kelly [his wife] and I have gone through quite a bit and she has gone through even more, being on bed rest and many other things.
“She did tell me our son Kepa said to bring a trophy home on this stretch of golf and I started to believe it was going to happen at one point today – maybe not in the last 20 minutes but at least I can bring one home for them.
“To get over the hump feels quite incredible and it’s just relief that it happened.”
