Jon Rahm could join Brooks Koepka in US Open lore

Jon Rahm finished strong on Thursday and recorded an opening round of 69 at the 2022 US Open.

Jon Rahm’s quest to repeat at the US Open champion began early Thursday morning. The Spaniard rallied with a birdie on the 18th hole at The Country Club and finished his opening round with a 69 (-1).

Rahm won his very first major championship last year in San Diego at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Rahm birdied the final two holes on that memorable Sunday last June and outlasted South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen.

Rahm already made history last year when he become the first ever US Open champion from Spain. This year, Rahm is looking to join some elite company as well.

Jon Rahm is looking to repeat as US Open champion.

Jon Rahm is looking to become the first player since Brooks Koepka in 2018 to win back-to-back US Open titles. Prior to Koepka achieving the feat, you have to go all the way back to 1989 when Curtis Strange won the second of his two US Open titles.

Strange won his first ever US Open at The Country Club in Brookline where this year’s tournament is being played. Willie Anderson (1903-05), John McDermott (1911-12), Bobby Jones (1929-30), Ralph Guldahl (1937-38), and Ben Hogan (1950-51) are the only other golfers who’ve won back-to-back US Open Championships.

Only 22 players have ever won at least two titles. Among them are Tiger Woods, Lee Janzen, Ernie Els, Hale Irwin, and Jack Nicklaus. Jon Rahm is looking to join that list as well.

Rahm was a few shots off the pace after his opening round on Thursday, but he never led during last year’s event until the final day of the tournament. A final round of 67 in 2021 was just enough to secure a victory for Rahm.

The United States Open is one of the most difficult challenges in all of golf, so winning back-to-back championships will not be easy. We’ll have to stay tuned to see if Jon Rahm can join Brooks Koepka and become just the eighth golfer to repeat as champion at the US Open.