Jon Rahm why has emerged as a prominent figure on the LIV Golf Tour this season and is close to securing the title of individual champion in this alternative competition.
His transition from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf appears to be yielding significant benefits.
The Spanish golfer ascended to the position of the highest-paid player in the sport globally after securing an impressive £386 million contract with the Saudi-backed tour in December of the previous year. This decision generated considerable discussion, particularly since the 29-year-old had earlier voiced doubts regarding LIV’s format and had prioritized his legacy and historical significance over financial gain.
However, a few weeks later, Rahm acknowledged that financial incentives were indeed the primary factor influencing his choice to switch tours. Considering his earnings this season, it is reasonable to conclude that he made a wise decision. “I am being compensated more for participating in the same sport,” he remarked to ESPN in February. “I cannot speak for others, but that seems appealing to me,” he further stated.
At the moment, Rahm holds the second position on the 2024 LIV Golf money list, having earned $12.75 million (£9.72 million) in prize money this season. Joaquin Niemann is in the lead with $14.5 million (£11.1 million), while Sergio Garcia and Brooks Koepka are in third and fourth place, with earnings of $11.46 million (£8.73 million) and $11.04 million (£8.41 million) respectively.
Even though Rahm is behind Niemann in terms of earnings, he has recently surpassed the Chilean to take the top spot in the overall LIV Golf standings. With only one event remaining in the season, he is close to being named the individual champion. If he keeps his lead, he stands to gain an additional $18 million (£13.7 million) in prize money.
Rahm, the champion of the US Open in 2021 and the Masters in 2023, has consistently placed within the top 10 in every LIV event this season; however, he has secured only one victory to date. This sole triumph occurred at LIV Golf UK last month, where he narrowly defeated Nielmann by a single stroke.
He nearly added another win at LIV Golf Greenbrier last week, but was ultimately surpassed by Koepka in an exhilarating play-off, as both competitors finished at 19 under par. With this victory, Koepka made history as the first individual to win five LIV Golf events.
As a result, Rahm ended up with a payout of $2.25 million (£1.71 million), putting him about $1.7 million (£1.4 million) behind Niemann on the earnings leaderboard. Nevertheless, his strong showing at Greenbrier allowed him to surpass Niemann in the individual rankings, as Niemann finished T15.
The two will face off for the LIV Golf title in Chicago next month, with Rahm needing to outshine Niemann to claim the top position, following in the footsteps of previous champions like Dustin Johnson and Talor Gooch.
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