PGA Championship: Jon Rahm focused on his own major challenge as LIV Golf star chases third leg of career Grand Slam
Jon Rahm, Ludvig Åberg and Aaron Rai all on four under heading into the final day, with former winners Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele a further shot back; Rahm chasing third major title; watch the final round live on Sunday from 4pm on Sky Sports Golf
Sunday 17 May 2026 00:28, UK
Jon Rahm insists he has nothing to prove heading into the final round of the PGA Championship, having charged up a bunched leaderboard to boost his major hopes at Aronimink Golf Club.
The former world No 1 followed rounds of 69 and 70 over the first two days with a third-round 67 to grab a share of the clubhouse lead during the third round, enhancing his hopes of completing the third leg of the career Grand Slam.
Following Alex Smalley's late burst, Rahm finds himself two shots off the lead but is the best-placed player of those who have already won a major.
Rahm has already won twice and finished runner-up twice in LIV Golf events this season, although saw his game questioned after failing to contend during Rory McIlroy's title defence at The Masters last month.
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Victory would see him become the first Spanish winner of the PGA Championship and first active LIV Golf player to win a major since Bryson DeChambeau at the 2024 US Open, but Rahm is keen to focus on his own game as he chases a third major victory.
When asked whether he had anything to prove, Rahm told Sky Sports: "Not really, no. I've been playing really good golf. I'm happy to be in the hunt again one more year [finished tied-eighth last year].
"All I can do is control what I can control, go play my golf, and hope that that's enough."
He later told reporters: "Honestly, in a week like this, one, I'm thinking more about myself. I'm not going to take on anything outside what I can control, when it comes to competing tomorrow [Sunday].
"But what it would mean for Spain as well in the Grand Slam tally and being the last leg of the Grand Slam for us as well, there's a lot of things that would mean a lot, but too much of it is out of my control.
"Hopefully I can keep doing what I've done so far this week, especially today, and I get the chance to answer that [question] tomorrow."
Rahm raced up the leaderboard with a front-nine 32 and cancelled out a bogey at the 11th by picking up shots at the 14th and 16th, only to miss out on the outright advantage with a three-putt bogey at the last.
"That was a fantastic round of golf," added Rahm, who held a share of the lead late in last year's final round before a tied-eighth finish. "It's very hard to go bogey-free out here and to have given myself a chance, it's good enough in that sense.
"Drove it extremely well - I think that's where it all starts. I hit more fairways today than the first two days combined, at least that's what it felt like! With good iron play, I gave myself a lot of chances,
"The only thing I'll kick myself for today was the two short putts on 13 and 18. One was a misread, and the one on 18 I simply just hit it too hard, but that doesn't take from the fact that I'm in a good position for tomorrow."
Chaotic major Sunday ahead?
Gusting winds and tucked pins have helped produce one of the most congested leaderboards in major history, with Rahm's Ryder Cup team-mate Ludvig Åberg on the same score and among over 20 players still in contention.
"My PGA Tour career isn't necessarily very long at this point, but I've never seen anything like it," Åberg said. "It's very tight. I think there are a lot of good players within striking distance going into tomorrow [Sunday] and it's a cool thing, I think, for the viewers.
"I think it's cool to see that many guys have a chance to win a tournament, but it doesn't necessarily change the way you play this golf course.
"I think the way it's set up with a lot of difficult golf holes, a lot of strong par-threes and difficult shots into some of these par-fours, there's not a whole lot you can do differently. So I think that's why we're seeing a tight leaderboard, but it also makes it exciting."
Aaron Rai also heads into the final day on four under, having never previously been inside the top-10 heading into the final round a major, leaving him in contention to become the first English winner of the PGA Championship since 1919.
"Amazing to be in this position," Rai told reporters. "A lot of really good golf to be here. I also know there's such a long way to go. A lot of things can and will change tomorrow. Amazing to be here but trying not to get too far ahead of myself."
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