Jon Rahm Provides Straightforward Evaluation Regarding LIV Golf Achievement
Jon Rahm Speaks Up: LIV Golf Finishes Don't Reflect His Best Game
Jon Rahm confessed that his continued success in the LIV Golf series, boasting smaller fields with no cuts, might not exactly represent his top-notch career performance on the greens. In an informal chat at his 2025 US Open press meeting, the Spaniard admitted that scoring top-10 finishes in LIV Golf is easier with fewer players in the fray.
"I've been killin' it in LIV, sure, but let's not forget it's simpler to nab a top 10 spot with a smaller crowd," said Rahm, with a roll of his eyes, "C'mon, it's obvious. If I played in a big ol' PGA tourney? Don't think I'd be cashin' those top 10 checks every week, man."
"I've gotten my golf on, ain't no denyin' that, but I'd be lyin' if I said I'd be suffocated by top 10s in full-scale tourneys. I reckon I'd still score in the top 30 or even top 25 for 21 straight tournaments. That's no chump change by any stretch of the imagination," he added, sporting a smirk.
On the heels of controversial funding from Saudi Arabia, Rahm made the switch to LIV Golf in 2023, the same year he won The Masters and pocketed a reported $350 million over several years. Rahm's decision to join LIV remains one of the breakaway tour's highest-profile signings, though he faced criticism the following year when his Major tournament performances took a nosedive.
Despite a disappointing 2024 run, with a tied 45th place finish at the Masters and a missed cut at the PGA Championship, Rahm is now back on track, having rediscovering his form on the LIV circuit.
"I reckon winning's just as tough, but the smaller field can work to your advantage when it comes to standin' higher. I wouldn't give LIV the whole credit for rackin' up 10 top finishes, but I can't deny it's helped. I ain't sayin' it does all the hard work itself."
Players and spectators are eager to see how Rahm fares this week at the Oakmont US Open, especially after a stirring performance at the PGA Championship last month. Though Rahm faltered at the last hole, he showed signs of improvement and crackling potential.
"I totally loved bein' in the mix until the back nine at Quail Hollow, man. I was like a kid in a candy store. It was sad to see five shots hit the deck at the last three holes, but hey, that's golf," Rahm shared with a shrug.
Stepping up to the plate at Oakmont—the site of his memorable performance as the top amateur in 2016—Rahm carries a positive mindset but admits he's not pining for an everyday appointment to the golf course.
"I'd love to smash my way inside the club, buddy! Oakmont's a beaut, and makes for brutal good memories. But play it every day? Oh, no way. I crave variety in my game, just like any golfer".
"Jon Rahm acknowledged that while he has excelled in LIV Golf, securing top-10 finishes in larger tournaments like the PGA might prove more challenging due to the increased competition."
"Despite his success in the LIV Golf series, Rahm expressed his belief that he would still maintain high finishes, such as top 30 or top 25, in full-scale tournaments that offer a larger player pool."
