CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jon Rahm would like not to be forgotten.
The 30-year-old Spaniard, a former No. 1 in the world and a two-time major winner, has been playing in relative anonymity since he controversially took the Saudi money and joined LIV Golf after saying he’d never have interest in doing so.
Rahm surged up the leaderboard and into contention after the PGA Championship third round Saturday at Quail Hollow. He stands at 6-under par, five shots off the lead after shooting 67.
“It’s hard to express how hungry I may be for a major,’’ Rahm said.
Rahm, though, said his motivation goes beyond bagging a third career major.
“It’s so much deeper than that,’’ he said. “I would close out the Spanish Grand Slam. We’re just missing the PGA. I would be the first since Seve (Ballesteros) to win three majors, and I would be the first Spanish player to get three different majors.
“It’s hard to explain what that would mean. But if I can get it done (Sunday), I can give you that answer. It would be a dream come true.’’
A PGA victory would give Rahm, a U.S. Open and Masters winner, the third leg of a career Grand Slam.
“I’d be thrilled, but there’s 18 holes ahead,’’ Rahm said. “I’m about as hungry as anybody can be in this situation. Very happy to be in position (to win a major) again.’’
Saturday’s round was Rahm’s best in a major since he joined LIV. When that was pointed out to him, he got defensive.
“Me going to LIV and playing worse in majors had nothing to do with where I was playing golf,’’ Rahm said. “My swing was simply not at the level it had to be for me to compete. It’s easier to post a score on non-major championship courses and venues, and I think when you get to the biggest stages like this one and these courses, those flaws are going to get exposed, and it did.’’
He said he’s “very happy with the state of my game,’’ adding, “I think today was the round that I knew I was capable of. Those first two rounds felt very confident, and just did everything a little bit better. I’m just very excited again to be in this position and looking forward to hopefully having a good Sunday.’’
Rahm got a break on the 11th hole, where he bounced an approach shot off a spectator’s head. The errant shot could have ended up in a bad spot.
The spectator was not hurt, and was actually laughing when it happened.
“I must say I’m very impressed,’’ Rahm said later. “After I hit it and we saw the ball bounce out. I haven’t seen a ball ricochet like that in a while. For a 6-iron, that thing came in sideways quick.
“I told Adam (Hayes, his caddie), ‘Get the Sharpie ready because I’m going to have to give him something, like a signed glove,’ ’’ Rahm went on. “His response was, ‘That may not be enough.’
“We were kind of sorting through things between golf clubs and golf balls. I don’t think a glove and a tee is going to cut it. He took it great. I told him, ‘If he was European and grew up playing soccer, football, and he just aimed a little bit better, maybe just get it closer to the hole.’
“He took it great and he was a great sport about it.’’
