DUBLIN, Ohio — Jon Rahm is one particular good round absent from knowing a lifelong dream.

Rahm, the 25-yr-aged Spaniard who seized a commanding 4-shot lead in Saturday’s third round of the Memorial Match at Muirfield Village, can elevate himself to No. 1 in the environment rankings with a victory Sunday.

Rahm, in treacherous course circumstances, shot the minimal spherical of the working day Saturday with a 4-below 68 to get to 12-beneath. Ryan Palmer and Tony Finau are tied for next at 8-under, and Danny Willett is 6-below.

Sunday has tasty likely to be a fitting and unforgettable day for Rahm, since winning the Memorial would be the biggest victory of his profession, the No. 1 ranking would come with it and it would join him with famous Seve Ballesteros as the only Spanish players at any time to achieve that rarefied air.

“Oh, it’s incredibly important — No. 1 in the planet,’’ Rahm claimed. “It’s of course a huge offer. I just can’t sit here and try to diminish it and prevent it because it would just be lying to myself. But it is a consequence of me successful [Sunday].’’

Requested about signing up for Ballesteros, the late king of Spanish golf, Rahm grew emotional.

“It’s always rough to set it into terms,’’ Rahm explained. “Seve is a large affect of mine. Many thanks to that Ryder Cup in ’97 [in Spain] and his captaincy and the way he influenced several not only in Spain but in Europe, he’s the purpose why I’m participating in in this article today. And any time I can do one thing remotely near to what he did, it is fairly emotional. I can’t lie. It is a little something that deep in my main as a Spaniard and as a player I would adore to reach.’’

A Rahm win coupled with present-day No. 1 Rory McIlroy finishing even worse than in a tie for second would allow for Rahm to leapfrog McIlroy, who’s 10 photographs off the lead at 2-below.

Rahm missed the slash in his only other Memorial visual appeal, in 2017, when he shot 73-77. He did not enjoy perfectly in the initial 3 times of last week’s Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village, either, even though he shut with a last-spherical 64.

Rahm evidently has discovered anything in the filth the earlier couple times to help him fix Muirfield Village, simply because he’s handling the organization-and-rapidly disorders that have designed the Memorial represent a big championship improved than any person in the industry. The course is set to be torn up and reconstructed as quickly as the last spherical is full Sunday, so the tournament employees is pushing it to the brink.

“I told Adam [Hayes, his caddie] going for walks down 18 that they must just allow folks to arrive tomorrow in the similar circumstances we did, lower the greens, make absolutely sure they are the exact same velocity, flags on the very same spots, just for people to see,’’ Rahm reported. “We were being wondering the scratch club champion could possibly not crack 80 listed here currently. It’s that complicated a golfing course. And I can say, since of that, [Saturday] could be one of the most effective rounds of golfing I’ve performed in my everyday living.’’

With the gamers all-around him staggered by the disorders, Rahm created a electricity transfer on the back again nine and seized handle of the match with a operate of birdies on Nos. 13, 14, 15 and 16.

Before that, Finau appeared like he was on the verge of separating himself from the pack. The 30-year-previous Finau, who has only one particular job PGA Tour victory, was 12-less than as he walked to the 12th tee with 4-shot direct at the time and designed double-bogey.

He adopted that with a bogey on 322-garden 14th, in which he attempted to generate the eco-friendly hit his tee shot into the drinking water. That expense Finau his guide, dropping him to 9-beneath, 1 shot guiding Rahm.

The closing dagger to Finau’s day arrived on No. 17, which he double bogeyed to tumble to 8-underneath, 4 photographs driving Rahm, whom he’d led by four shots some 90 minutes before.

“It was good … and then it wasn’t excellent,’’ Finau mentioned of his round. “Man, this golf training course can get you in a heartbeat. We experienced a tiny bit of flashbacks to Shinnecock though we were out there. That’s how firm and rapid the greens had been.’’

Finau was grouped with Rahm the first two days, so he understands what he’s up from Sunday.

“He’s a entire world-course player,’’ Finau said. “I don’t think he’s that significantly off ever. Certainly, he’ll be the dude to capture.’’

Excellent luck with that.

“My mission [is] just go engage in very good golf and with any luck , have a very good cushion coming down the extend, specifically on 18 so I can just delight in that wander,’’ Rahm claimed.

And his No. 1 ranking.