The wedge behind Jon Rahm’s controversial chip-in bogey

jon rahm celebrates chip in

Jon Rahm's remarkable chip-in on the 16th at Muirfield Village came courtesy of his TaylorMade Milled Grind 2 wedge.

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Jon Rahm woke up on Monday morning on top of the golf world — literally. The 25-year-old has been one of golf’s brightest young stars for some time, but Monday, he woke up as Memorial Tournament champion and only the second Spaniard ever to hold the title of World No. 1.

It’s been a week worth remembering for Rahm, if for no reason other than the ridiculous (and controversial) moment that dominated the last three holes of his final round.

On the par-3 16th hole, Rahm hit the shot of the tournament (and perhaps the shot of the year), holing out for birdie from DEEP in the rough behind the green to solidify his lead.

jon rahm ball move
Jon Rahm’s miraculous chip-in complicated by rules controversy
By: Dylan Dethier

Of course, what followed — a review that deemed Rahm’s ball moved at address and assessed the leader an ultimately meaningless two-stroke penalty — ignited a good, old-fashioned golf rules debate. But the rules infraction shouldn’t minimize the complexity and impressiveness of the shot itself.

Rahm’s hole-out represented a near-perfect intersection of skill, touch and response. If he were to hit another 99 shots from the same location with the same TaylorMade wedge, he might not hole any of them. But in the right moment with the right club in his hand, he fashioned what is sure to be the most memorable chip-in bogey of his career.

Speaking of the club in his hand, Rahm’s TaylorMade Milled Grind 2 deserves at least some of the credit for the shot of the weekend (even if its thickened head might hold some responsibility for the millimeter shift in his ball that caused the penalty).

ZTP raw grooves in Rahm’s Milled Grind 2 cut deeper to provide zippier shots, while CNC milling ensures consistency throughout the lead edge and sole of the wedge. The club’s raw finish means it rusts with age, but that’s the price of a wedge designed for premium performance when you need birdies — erm, bogeys.

TaylorMade Milled Grind 2 Wedge

Made from 8620 carbon steel, the Milled Grind 2s are precision milled with raw faces for extra spin and feel. A “thick-thin” construction optimizes CG location, while TPU inserts in the back cavities dampen vibration. The faces will rust, but the rest of the head will maintain its finish.
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James Colgan

Golf.com Editor

James Colgan is a news and features editor at GOLF, writing stories for the website and magazine. He manages the Hot Mic, GOLF’s media vertical, and utilizes his on-camera experience across the brand’s platforms. Prior to joining GOLF, James graduated from Syracuse University, during which time he was a caddie scholarship recipient (and astute looper) on Long Island, where he is from. He can be reached at james.colgan@golf.com.