Jon Rahm makes emphatic return to tie Justin Thomas for lead at Northern Trust

Jon Rahm claims US Open

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Jon Rahm looked as if he had never been away in the opening round of the Northern Trust, after carding an opening round eight-under-par 63 to tie the lead with Justin Thomas on day one. Rahm had been out of action since the Open Championship over four weeks ago, after a positive Covid-19 result stopped the world No. 1 competing at this year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.

However, the US Open champion wasted no time in getting back to his scintillating best at the opening FedEx Cup play-off event in New Jersey, after a bogeyless first 18 holes, equipped with eight birdies saw him climb to the top of the leaderboard.

Thomas joined Rahm at the top in a tie for first as he also shot a superb eight-under, with nine birdies on his card. The American’s only real blemish throughout his impressive opening round came on the par fourth 15th, where he came away with a frustrating bogey.

Despite this the world No. 5 hit back in style, picking up three consecutive birdies on his three final holes to ensure Rahm wasn’t alone at the top heading into Friday’s second round.

FedEx Cup standings leader Collin Morikawa did not get his play-off campaign off in the way he would have liked though, as he finds himself at the wrong end of the leaderboard following day one, 11 shots off the two leaders.

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The Open champion endured a disappointing opening round at Liberty National, shooting an underwhelming three-over-par 74 in a round that included five bogeys, to leave him in unfamiliar territory in a tie for 102nd.

Once again it was a tale of what could have been for four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, as the Northern Irishman cancelled out his five opening round birdies with five bogeys to leave him level-par for the tournament in a tie for 52nd.

Reigning Northern Trust, and FedEx Cup champion Dustin Johnson got his title defence off to a less than ideal start after cracking his driver on the range just minutes before he was set to head to the tee to kick off his opening round.

As a result, the former world No. 1 had equipped no spare driver with him, and after the Taylormade equipment truck had already left the course he was forced to add an emergency 3-wood from his car to the bag on the second role.

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Despite a driverless opening round, the former Masters champion still managed to shoot under-par, carding a one-under 71 to kick off his 2021 play-off campaign.

Speaking about his equipment mishap following his opening, Johnson – as calm as ever – said: “I’ve got a 5-wood that I use for my 3-wood. It goes the distance I want it to. But I had a strong 3-wood (14.5 degrees) in my car, so it helped a little bit.

The first time I hit it was on eight, just I hadn’t hit it. It was brand new. So I hit it down the middle on eight, hit a good one, hit a good shot on 9. I hit it nicely, though, with it.”

The second round of the Northern Trust will get underway at Liberty National this afternoon, with the opening two groups kicking things off at 12:20pm BST.

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