By Kent Gray
Jon Rahm has his big stick firing and reckons it could take him all the way to the DP World Tour Championship title.

A third round 65 – which he described as “close to a flawless round as I’m going to play” – has the 23-year-old Spaniard in a bullish mood just a shot off Justin Rose’s -15 lead heading into Sunday’s thrilling Race to Dubai finale.

“You know, if I can keep doing what I’ve been doing all week, which is hit it really well off the tee, I think the rest will take care of itself,” Rahm said.

Rahm 65 wasn’t actually flawless – he bogeyed the 1st and par the par 5 second – but there was a clue to how he was playing with the very first swipe of his TaylorMade driver, not to mention the eight birdies flowed from the 3rd.

“No. 1, I had it a perfect driver; it just went in the bunker. Went a little too far. But besides that, my lag putting wasn’t there but the rest was absolutely flawless. My iron shots were great. I was precise. Short game was good. Overall, you know, really, really solid round.

“If this doesn’t build momentum, I don’t know what’s going to. My last 27 holes, I’m 13-under par. Take into account the back nine yesterday and the round today. I’m feeling good. The game is feeling good. Hopefully I can keep doing the same thing tomorrow.”

Rahmbo was only just warming up, too.

“Man, what words, I mean, I’m kind of a perfectionist. I always find flaws. But to be honest, it was as close to a flawless round I’m going to play. You know, you’re always going to miss shots, so we take that into account. I played really, really solid golf today.”

Playing partner Justin Rose, who matched Rahm’s 65 but could do without the Spanish tyro playing so well Sunday given the Race to Dubai permutations, was certainly impressed.

“Jon started 5, 5 today so his 65 was unbelievable. But he never gave up. He stayed calm and made a lot of birdies obviously. He was pressing pretty hard to stay in touch with me. He said, it would be great to play with you in the final group tomorrow; kiss of death on 18 [Rahm will play with Dean Burmester in the penultimate pairing at 11.55am].

“But anyway, we had a great time out there. He’s playing great golf. I think everybody played great golf today. I saw Tommy’s name creep up on the board. It’s brilliant. It’s just so much fun and a ton of guys tomorrow. It’s really condensed. One-shot lead with a pack like that behind you doesn’t mean much. It’s just going to be whoever comes out tomorrow and really plays well.”

Rahm clearly fed off Rose as well.

“He [Rose] had a great start birdieing the first hole, the third hole and you obviously feed from that. It helps. When you see someone playing good, I feel like that positive energy can translate to you if you want it to. I kind of let it happen and got on a little bit of a roll myself. Seemed like we were trading birdies. It was just back and forth. It was a really fun round.”

So what would it mean to seal you’re Rookie-of-the-Year season in style with a second Rolex event title to go with the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open win in July?

“For many reasons it would be absolutely amazing just because the fact that being Rookie-of-the-Year, winning twice on The European Tour; once was already a dream but twice I’ve won and both of them being Rolex Series and one being DP World Tour Championship, it would be something really, really special.

“It would be the cherry on top of the icing of a great, great year.”