The PGA Tour was reeling when the LIV Tour signed stars like Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Bubba Watson for its first season in 2022. The most devastating loss came early this year, however, when Jon Rahm jumped ship for a contract worth well over $100 million.
The exact amount that convinced Rahm to make the jump is uncertain, but getting a young star of his stature gave the Saudi-backed LIV circuit a huge boost, and Rahm didn’t disappoint, either.
He wasn’t an immediate hit. He needed 11 tournaments to get his first LIV win, but that victory in the United Kingdom set the stage for Rahm’s rousing climax to the season on Sunday at Bolingbrook Golf Club. Winning the LIV Individual Championship isn’t as impressive as winning any of golf’s four majors yet, but it was special – and unique.
Not only did Rahm, 29 and a pro golfer since 2016, pick up an $18 million bonus for winning the season-long title, he also captured the LIV/Chicago crown. That meant another $4 million. Rahm’s rookie LIV season produced winnings of $34,754,821.
Where the two-championship day fits into the Rahm legacy is to be decided later, but it pads a record of accomplishment that includes the 2023 Masters, the 2021 U.S. Open and DP World Tour wins in 2017, 2019 and 2023.
Rahm’s only opponent for the LIV Individual title was Chile’s Joaquin Niemann. No one else was mathematically eligible after 11 world-wide tournaments. Niemann made birdies on two of his first three holes and battled to the end. Still Rahm was three strokes better.
Sergio Garcia, from Spain – just like Rahm – was the main challenger for the LIV/Chicago title. Garcia and Niemann were two shots back and still hopeful until Rahm rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt at the 17th to seal the deal. With rounds of 69, 64 and 66 Rahm was 11 under par for the 54 holes and had a three-shot victory margin over both rivals.
Rahm also captains the Legion XIII team, and that unit made the podium – a LIV tradition for its first three finishers in the individual and team events at each tournament. Legion XIII finished second to Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers. They’ll battle again in the season-ending LIV Team Championship Sept. 20-22 in Dallas.
Winning golf tournaments was nothing knew for Rahm, but captaining a four-man team was. Though Rahm didn’t get a win for a few months, Legion XIII won in the first tournament.
“I wasn’t sure how that was going to go,’’ said Rahm, `but it wasn’t that big of an adjustment. It’s been a lot of fun.’’
Rahm caught a flight home Sunday night to join his family. The arrival of the Rahms third child is imminent.
With just one tournament left in the season Rahm reflected on his dramatic decision to leave the PGA Tour.
“LIV is different than any other golf tour out there, but yet it’s closer to any other sport out there,’’ he said. “I enjoyed all the places we went to this year. It was fun. I absolutely love being out here. It’s been a fantastic experience for me and my family.’’
It wasn’t by any means an easy season, though. His wife Kelly experienced complications in her pregnancy that was disconcerting. His driver wasn’t working in the early part of the year, and the problem wasn’t solved until he changed shafts at mid-season. Winning – or lack there of – was also frustrating.
Though he had 10 top-10 finishes that first win didn’t come until the season was winding down. He got it at the United Kingdom, then one got away at West Virginia’s Greenbrier when he lost in a playoff to Brooks Koepka. Those two events led into the visit to Bolingbrook, a course with no big-tournament history. Rahm made only one bogey in the tournament, and none in the weekend rounds.
“During the practice rounds I thought that would be impossible,’’ he said. After that he was a clutch player. On Sunday he not only picked up big money, he also took home two trophies and a dazzling ring.
“This season wasn’t a bumpy road, but it was a windy one,’’ he said. `I wasn’t clutch in the season, but I was here. When I decided to join LIV I felt I could make an impact. I accomplished a goal.’’