Jon Rahm ends a 22-year drought with a bogey-free round at the U.S. Open.

Jon Rahm shattered one of the longest and most impressive streaks in world golf by finishing a round without bogeys at the U.S. Open held at Shinnecock Hills, a feat not accomplished in over two decades. The Spaniard delivered a performance of absolute solidity and composure, becoming the first player in 22 years to complete a round on this legendary New York course without recording a single blemish on the scorecard, a remarkable achievement that surprised the golf community and reignited the debate over the difficulty level of the American course.

The accomplishment was achieved this Friday when Rahm, after the previous day’s play was postponed due to a lack of natural light, returned to the green to complete the final five holes at par, consolidating his score of two strokes under par (-2) that he had finished with on Thursday. Although he finished four strokes behind leader Wyndham Clark, Rahm was the only one among the 156 players in competition to register a flawless round, without any bogeys. This performance is even more significant considering that, since the second round in 2004, over 700 rounds have been recorded at Shinnecock Hills without anyone managing to avoid the dreaded bogeys.

The numbers speak for themselves: in the last six editions of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills – four rounds in 2018 and the two finals in 2004 – no player had managed to finish without any bogeys. The last time such a feat was achieved was in 2004, when Phil Mickelson, Fred Funk, and Daniel Chopra submitted perfect scorecards in the second round. Since then, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, there have been 578 rounds recorded between 2004 and 2018, each with at least one bogey, and this year more than 130 players had already finished the first round before Rahm finally broke the curse.

The importance of this achievement goes far beyond statistical symbolism: it represents a statement of strength and consistency from a player who continues to push the boundaries of the sport. Rahm, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, winner of the 2023 Masters, and now a star of LIV Golf since the beginning of 2024, is once again making headlines worldwide, underscoring that he remains one of the key figures in international golf. This performance comes at a time when criticism of the difficulty of the Shinnecock Hills course has been intensifying – and Rahm responds with a class that few can replicate.

At the end of the round, Rahm explained how he managed to maintain focus and avoid the mistakes that have been fatal for so many others: “I knew I had to be patient and play each hole as if it were the first. This course does not forgive distractions, and every shot requires maximum concentration.” His words, spoken after completing the round, reflect the mentality of a champion who has already proven capable of overcoming extreme conditions and notoriously unforgiving courses. The Spaniard added, “I’m pleased to be the first in so many years to achieve this feat here. It gives me confidence for the rest of the tournament.”

Rahm’s performance places him among the favorites for the final victory, despite still being behind Wyndham Clark. The Spaniard finishes the first round with clear motivation to attack the top spots, knowing that his consistency could be decisive in the coming days. His performance not only reinforces his status as an international star but also sends a serious warning to the competition. With the Shinnecock course expected to continue claiming victims, Rahm has shown that it is possible to survive without bogeys — and with him, the dream of lifting the trophy again is more alive than ever.

The coming days promise intense emotions, with pressure increasing on the leaders and favorites needing to prove their worth on every hole. Should Rahm maintain this level of concentration and precision, he could not only close the gap to the top of the leaderboard but also solidify his legacy as one of the greatest players of the modern era. For now, the Spaniard has already secured a place in U.S. Open history and delivered a clear message: anyone looking to win at Shinnecock Hills will have to be at their best, or risk becoming just another statistic in the legendary New York course’s history of failures.

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