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A Rare Miss: World No. 1 Jon Rahm’s Uncharacteristic Putting Blunder
Even the best golfers in the world experience moments of frustration on the green. However, few missteps are as jarring as a short putt gone awry, especially when it comes from the top-ranked player. Jon Rahm, currently holding the coveted No. 1 spot, faced just such a situation at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a PGA tour event where he’s enjoyed considerable success in recent years.
During the par 3 seventh hole, Rahm found himself staring down a putt of less than 10 inches.What followed was a shocking display of fallibility. The ball stopped agonizingly short of the cup,leaving Rahm visibly stunned. This unexpected miss resulted in a bogey and marked a statistical anomaly: the shortest missed putt of the entire 2021-22 season. Adding to the surprise, data analysis revealed that Rahm had a 99.96% chance of making that putt.
When questioned about the miss, Rahm admitted to feeling a strange disconnect with his putter. “I wish I could offer excuses, but honestly, it just didn’t feel right in my hands,” he confessed. “I tried to adjust my stroke, but it didn’t work. I’m not sure what happened. My grip was a bit sweaty, which might have contributed.”
Despite this uncharacteristic error, Rahm’s reign at the top of the world golf rankings remains strong, with 40 weeks spent holding the No. 1 position.
In the opening round of the Orlando tournament, rahm carded an even-par 72, placing him in 51st position. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy, another PGA Tour star, stormed out of the gate with a 65 (-7), taking an early lead.
While no Argentinian golfers are competing in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the PGA Tour’s alternative event, the Puerto Rico Open, features a trio of Argentine players: Fabián Gómez, Alejandro Tosti (making his circuit debut after qualifying on Monday), and Andres Romero. Gómez and Tosti both started with a 73 (+1), while Romero opened with a 75 (+3).
