With runner-up at PGA, Jon Rahm flashes a reminder that he's still among the world's best

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) — Joh Rahm teased his third major victory — and first since he left for Saudi-backed LIV Golf — when he opened with back-to-back birdies at Aronimink on Sunday.

Rahm, who started the final round two strokes off the lead, made only one birdie on the back nine, still good enough to contend in the PGA Championship.

Just not enough to catch Aaron Rai of England.

Rahm shot a 2-under 68 and finished three shots behind Rai. Although he enters the record book as a runner-up, he ultimately didn't have a chance over the closing stretch.

Rahm did provide, at times, a reminder of just how well he can play in a major — or any tournament, after toiling in relative obscurity for American audiences while playing on LIV.

Rahm knows he hasn't been part of part of the conversation about the best in golf. Despite two wins and four second-place finishes in seven LIV events this year, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy rule the sport.

And for this week, at least, so does Rai. On the closing holes when the contenders needed him to stumble, Rai holed a birdie putt of some 70 feet on the 17th hole to put it away.

“What Aaron did today, catching him could have been very difficult," Rahm said. “I don’t know if it could happen, but I would have liked a better chance playing the last two holes. I feel like I was still close ... until he made that long putt.”

Still in contention on the back nine, the Spaniard reeled off six pars before making birdie at the 16th, getting to 6 under, but by that point Rai was three strokes ahead.

Rahm won in Hong Kong in March for his first individual title since 2022. A week after a rough showing at the Masters, he won again in Mexico City.

Neither victory got as much attention as the uncertain future of LIV Golf, which next year will lose the financial backing of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

The 31-year-old Rahm can only wonder which direction his career would have gone had he not bolted from the PGA Tour at the end of 2023 for a lucrative contract with LIV.

Asked about that decision this week, Rahm said he preferred not to look back.

He did finish with the best score of the LIV players at Aronimink. Cameron Smith, David Puig and Joaquin Niemann all finished inside the top 25, while Bryson DeChambeau missed the cut.

Rahm entered the week at No. 20 in the world, a number that could be higher had LIV Golf received ranking points before this year.

He's keenly aware of being overlooked. Rahm referred to himself as being under the radar at the Masters and then lived up to that by nearly missing the cut.

Rahm righted himself at Aronimink thanks to some changes he made ahead of the tournament.

“It’s just small, little details that, unless you’re within, you’re not really going to understand. It’s hard to explain,” he said.

Playing on LIV means Rahm gets tested by a full field of golf's best only at the four majors, and it hasn't gone very well from him since he left the tougher competition on the PGA Tour.

In the eight majors before this week, Rahm finished outside the top 30 in four, including a missed cut.

He's had three top 10s but only one serious chance of winning. That was last year in the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, when he briefly challenged Scheffler.

He also tied for seventh in the U.S. Open at Oakmont, though he started the final round 11 shots behind.

Rahm has two more LIV tournaments — in Korea and Spain — before he arrives at Shinnecock Hills seeking his second U.S. Open title.

Rahm knows only winning — or at least flashing a reminder of his greatness on a major stage — will put him back in the mix among the world's best.

“I feel like I’m playing really good golf and definitely played good enough this week to give myself a chance to win,” Rahm said. “So, keep doing what I’ve been doing well.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Jon Rahm, of Spain, hits from the fourth tee during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Jon Rahm, of Spain, looks upwards after a missed shot on the third hole during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Jon Rahm, of Spain, hits from the 13th tee during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Jon Rahm, of Spain, walks to the eighth green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Jon Rahm, of Spain, hits from the fourth tee during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

PARIS (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka's diamonds sparkled in the sun when she won her first-round match at the heat-soakedFrench Open on Tuesday.

Top-ranked Sabalenka looked light on her feet on Court Philippe-Chatrier, despite wearing two thick necklaces in a 6-4, 6-2 win against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

“Diamonds, I don’t really feel the heaviness, but I can imagine how it looks from the outside,” said Sabalenka, the tournament runner-up last year. “So I feel pretty comfortable. For me, it’s important to look good.”

The four-time major winner was initially going to wear three necklaces but said she thought that might be too much.

“It probably sounds a bit crazy, but when I feel good about what I’m wearing, how I look on court, I tend to perform much better,” she said. "I like to bring a little bit of a fashion on the tennis court. I know the dress that I will wear on the Grand Slam, and I just try to come up with something to match the outfit."

Sabalenka said she wasn't worried over her jewelry away from Roland Garros.

“I have my fiancé. He’s kind of like my security,” she said, smiling. “My physio does jujitsu, so I feel pretty secure walking around. If I go somewhere, I don’t go alone.”

For a third consecutive day, the temperature in Paris was forecast to rise to at least 32 degrees Celsius (90 Fahrenheit).

The unusually hot conditions at Roland Garros make net-rushing — usually better reserved for hard and grass courts — a viable option because the court is drying out quicker and playing faster.

“Let’s hope that this is the perfect condition for me,” Sabalenka said. “It suits my game really well.”

Daniil Medvedev usually thrives in such conditions but he struggled in a five-set loss to 97th-ranked Australian opponent Adam Walton.

Gauff was opening her title defense later against fellow American Taylor Townsend.

Also advancing was 17th-seeded Iva Jovic, who beat good friend Alexandra Eala 6-4, 6-2.

Walton, who received a wild card invitation from tournament organizers, beat Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 2021 runner-up to Novak Djokovic, was leading 6-2, 3-0 against Alexandre Muller when his French opponent retired. Muller wiped away tears as he left the court and later said he injured his right calf, three months after injuring his left calf.

Later, top-ranked Jannik Sinner looks to extend his 29-match winning streak when he opens against French wild card Clement Tabur in the night session.

French teenager Moïse Kouamé made the perfect start to his French Open career with a 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-1 win against veteran Marin Cilic.

The 17-year-old Kouamé won one day after the 39-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils made his last appearance at Roland Garros.

He raised his arms in triumph and tilted his head back after defeating the 37-year-old Cilic, who won the 2014 U.S. Open, finished runner-up at two other majors, and reached the French Open semifinals in 2022.

The ATP Tour said No. 318-ranked Kouamé became the first man born in 2008 or later to win a Grand Slam match, and the crowd on a sun-baked Court Simonne-Mathieu showed their appreciation by chanting “Mo-ïse! Mo-ïse! Mo-ïse!" and clapping in-between.

“It's not easy to stay in the present without thinking of the score,” Kouamé said. “It wouldn’t have been possible without the huge help you (the crowd) gave me.”

In March, he became the youngest winner in Miami Masters history when he beat Zachary Svajda in the first round — earning a congratulatory message from Djokovic.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Alexandra Eala of Philippines returns to Iva Jovic of the U.S. during their first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Iva Jovic of the U.S. reacts as she plays against Alexandra Eala of Philippines during their first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Daniil Medvedev of Russia serves to Adam Walton of Australia during their first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts as she plays against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after winning against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during their first round women's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)