Jon Rahm capped off his first season with LIV Golf by securing the season-long individual championship with his second tournament win in three starts. The Legion XIII captain had an impressive season, never finishing outside of the top-10 in his 12 starts since December. Rahm expressed that while his success did not exceed his expectations, it definitely met them. His victory at Bolingbrook Golf Club in Chicago and winning the overall title earned him a substantial $22m payday.
The 29-year-old Spanish star shot a 4-under 66 on Sunday to hold off Joaquin Niemann and Sergio Garcia by three shots. With a total score of 11 under, Rahm played bogey-free golf for the last 38 holes and only suffered one bogey all week en route to his second win of the season. He had previously emerged victorious in LIV Golf UK in July and narrowly missed out on winning in Greenbrier last month, losing in a playoff to Brooks Koepka.
The battle between Rahm and Niemann for the Individual Championship was one of several races to be determined in the regular-season finale. Final seeds for Dallas were solidified, with Crushers GC, Legion XIII, and Ripper GC securing the three byes for the upcoming quarter-finals. Rahm spoke about the pressure of competing at the highest level, stating that “pressure is a privilege.”
With Rahm and Niemann leading the individual standings, Garcia managed to overtake Tyrrell Hatton for the final bonus-earning spot on the podium by just one point. Rahm entered the final day with a three-stroke lead over Niemann, who needed to finish ahead of him to claim the championship. Despite a strong start from Niemann with early birdies, Rahm remained composed and managed to maintain his lead. An impressive par-saving putt on the 11th hole and a birdie on the 17th sealed the victory for Rahm.
Reflecting on his season, Rahm emphasized the significance of winning individually on the final day. He expressed his pride in being able to culminate a season of good golf with a standout performance when it mattered most. Niemann acknowledged the challenge of beating a player of Rahm’s caliber, stating that it requires exceptional play to come out on top. The fitting finale of the season saw the top three players finish at the top of the leaderboard in Chicago, highlighting the competitive spirit and talent within the LIV Golf league.
