Jon Rahm’s played himself into familiar territory through two rounds at Quail Hollow. Sitting a 2-under heading into Saturday, he's eyeing a run at another major title alongside 35 other players all within 6 shots of Jhonattan Vegas’ 8-under lead.
Making a run at raising the Wanamaker will require cutting into the deficit from those at the top of the leaderboard, but the two-time major champ is upbeat with his play through two days, shooting back-to-back 1-under 70s.
“I think I'm in good position. Adding to the fact that I feel like I'm getting better, more confident with the swing. I made a lot of good swings out there (Friday) and gave myself plenty of chances,” Rahm said.
WATCH: Top Hole Outs of Round 2 at Quail Hollow
It’s important to note that although Rahm hasn’t yet won on LIV Golf this season, he owns top-nine finishes in all seven of his starts in the 2025 season. Also, in the first major championship of the year at the Masters, Rahm finished tied for 14th, hindered only by a slow opening round 3-over 75 which left him outside the projected cut-line at the time in a tie for 63rd. But the Spaniard rallied by going 6-under in his final three rounds to get inside that top fifteen.
What might he have in the take for the ending of this major championship? It’s important to note that although he hasn’t won a major since the 2023 Masters, he did make a run in the Open Championship last summer, ultimately settling for a tie for seventh place.
Rahm assessed his putting on Friday after his round with the media and seemed upbeat with what he’s been able to do in that department.
“Even though I made a really good par putt on 11 (Friday), and the one on 8, I really didn't make much else today. I hit a lot of good putts and they just didn't roll in,” Rahm said. “So hopeful going into the weekend only six shots back, and if I can start the first few holes better than I played so far, make a few birdies and get a round going and post something around 3, 4-under, which I don't feel like it's something too much to ask. I feel like, believe it or not, it's doable.”
When asked if he was surprised by the lack of major champions near the lead in this 107th PGA Championship Rahm deadpanned that he hadn’t look at the leaderboard at all by Friday evening. That small detail seems to point out an important aspect of his mindset- that he’s locked into his own game and what he can control. That’s a dangerous prospect for the rest of the field.
Quail Hollow’s been a demanding test thus far for competitors, especially on the Green Mile, but Rahm’s been steady on the closing stretch, playing them at even par so far this week. The 32-year-old’s aware of the battle he’s getting into for the final 36 holes and seems to be relishing the challenge.
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“It's a difficult golf course. I can see how somebody can shoot 5, 6-under fairly easily, and I can easily see how a round gets going the wrong way and you shoot 3, 4-over,” Rahm said. “I don't really ever think about how many major champions are out there, so I couldn't tell you if this is normal or not. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of those are 1-under to 1-over, that are good players, major champions, get a good run on the weekend, and get a little bit more of a benign golf course and be in the afternoon, get the round going.”
It would seem that Rahm would be a candidate for that same kind of early run in this third round as well. In his seven LIV starts combined with his Masters start in 2025, Rahm is averaging 68 on Saturdays. Not a bad trend for moving days.
