BROOKLINE, Mass. -- Jon Rahm seems to be really enjoying himself at the 2022 U.S. Open this week.
Not only is the reigning champion tied for second place at 4-under par through 36 holes, he's had nothing but good things to say about the course at The Country Club in Brookline.
The Country Club is one of the most famous venues in all of golf. Established in 1882, it's one of the five founding clubs of the USGA.
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Fascinating 2022 U.S. Open leaderboard sets stage for thrilling weekend
Rahm appreciates the history behind some of the sport's most famous courses, and The Country Club is no different.
"It's a place when you come into and you start hearing the stories and you go in the locker room and you see the pictures and the essence of what's happened, it makes it that much more special," Rahm said after Friday's second round.
"It's true living history on this golf course. You're taking steps on holes that some greats have in the past. When you get to 17 and you hear everything that's happened on that hole, it's very, very unique. Yeah, it's very enjoyable. It's kind of obviously like going to Augusta or a place like Riv, Colonial, courses that have been hosting events for a long time and are part of this game."
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Aside from the history, Rahm likes the uniqueness of the course and how it suits many different play styles. Several of the holes also offer a bunch of different ways to play them. It's a dynamic that makes competing at a course like this even more fun.
"I think a setup like this or a setup like it was last week in Canada or Memorial where you have some rough to deal with, it really puts a premium on all aspects of the game," Rahm explained. "Especially on a golf course like this. The more I play it, the more I like it.
"It's such a unique design to where you have options off the tee, and you can really pretty much choose whatever you want, and that's why you have on the leaderboard so many players that hit it kind of a bit of a difference in length off the tee.
"Just because you have holes like 17 where you can be as aggressive or as passive as you want. Holes like No. 7, very similar deal. No. 5, No. 3, you can push it as far down or as far back as you want and give yourself a chance. That's what makes it so much fun, especially with a U.S. Open setup. And kind of having that length it always going to be an advantage, but it gets neutralized a couple times, and it's really, really fun."
Rahm has a chance to make some history of his own this weekend. A victory would make him just the third golfer in the last 70 years to win back-to-back U.S. Open titles. One of those players, Curtis Strange, won the first of his consecutive U.S. Open crowns at The Country Club in 1988.