Jon Rahm impresses with opening-round 66 at Dean & DeLuca Invitational

After a brief blip at The Players, the Spaniard rocked again at Colonial on Thursday

Jon Rahm still has not missed a cut as a pro on the PGA Tour. Well, I guess we should say he has not missed a two-round cut as he was purged after the third round of The Players Championship a few weeks ago following a ghastly 82 on Saturday at TPC Sawgrass.

The bounce back was strong in this one, though, as he posted a 4-under 66 in his first round since then and sits one off the lead at the Dean & DeLuca Invitational after Round 1. Rahm made five birdies and just one bogey in his first outing at Colonial Country Club and is once again mixing it up among the leaders.

This is what he does.

Rahm led the field in strokes gained off the tee and was top 10 in putting at the time he finished, too. That's usually a pretty good formula for birdies and low scores. 

Rahm said he actually drove it pretty poorly on Wednesday in a practice round, but it was clear he rebounded quite well on Thursday. The two-time Hogan Award-winner (best amateur and college golfer) lit up what has been nicknamed "Hogan's Alley" in Fort Worth.

That's intriguing, too, because it's not a course I would necessarily see Rahm playing all that well. It's becoming clear, though, that that type of course might not exist. 

"It's an old school golf course, and usually I like those," Rahm said. "We have quite a few of those back in Spain. I feel comfortable ... I try to use (my driver) as much as possible, and rarely found myself out of the fairway. When I did, it was on the right side of the rough so I had a good chance to hit a good shot."

Rahm also noted that the mantra that heavy hitters like himself don't play Colonial well is a bit of a myth.

"Well, it is true, but you don't always have to hit drivers. Adam Scott won here, and he hits it pretty far," Rahm said. "I think it just means that people who don't hit it as far have a better chance of winning, I would say. A lot of holes they hit it to the same spot we do, and most of the time they're a lot more accurate than we are.

"With that being said, it doesn't mean it doesn't favor long hitters. It just says that shorter hitters are going to have a better chance to win. It's not like Jordan Spieth is a short hitter, and he did a good job last year, right? Ryan Palmer was up there. It is true players like Snedeker and Zach Johnson play good here, but it doesn't mean long hitters can't play well."

Colonial is a terrific course in that it has produced all manner of winners. Phil Mickelson, Zcah Johnson, Boo Weekley and Adam Scott have all taken home a trophy from this track in the last decade. 

"There are many ways to play this golf course, and many different players that have won here ..." added Rahm. "I feel like we thought properly out there. The one shot I missed I got lucky."

But it's not luck that keeps producing terrific weeks for the young Spaniard. It is a gift that the 22-year old has for hitting outrageously good golf shots and not making mistakes. He is in the driver's seat after 18 holes at one of the classic courses on the PGA Tour, and he admitted he's already considered what it would mean to have his name among those who have won here.

"I would be amazing for various reasons," Rahm said. "I've had some success in this clubhouse so far, and to be able to win with Sergio his first event, to be able to win where Mr. Hogan won five times -- you know, you go through this clubhouse, and every single champion of old and new eras has won here.

"So it would be amazing to be part of that group."