Emotional Jon Rahm earns first LIV Golf win after Hatton’s 3-putt finish

Jon Rahm put his hand to his forehead and tried to hold back tears, but some may have escaped.

He struggled with mixed feelings; fellow Legion XIII player, Tyrrell Hatton, had just parred his three hole at LIV Golf’s United Kingdom stop at JCB Golf & Country Club on Sunday. For Hatton, one putt would have won, two would have forced a playoff and anything worse would have given Rahm his long-awaited first LIV victory.

From 65 feet, 10 inches, Hatton putt to nearly 6 feet, but the par was missed at the end and Rahm, who was watching from the green, was the winner.

Finally.

“It’s just emotional,” Rahm said. “It was not an easy year for our family. Kelley and I have been through it quite a bit, and she has been through it even more, staying in bed among many other things. He really told me, our son Kepa said he brought home the trophy in this golf episode, and I started to believe that it would happen at one time today. Maybe not 20 minutes ago. But at least I can look at them and say I brought one home for them.”

Rahm was disappointed to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf at the start of the season, a big feather in the cap for LIV and a big cold shoulder for the Tour, which has lost its biggest stars despite the “Framework Agreement” with the Saudi PIF. But after going to LIV, Rahm failed to shine in the biggest stages.

“It’s not like I’ve been playing bad, even though a lot of you make it sound like I’m playing bad,” Rahm said at the US Open at Pinehurst last month. “I had two weeks that didn’t go well. I’ve been top ten and had a chance to win in most tournaments I’ve played, and unfortunately Augusta and the PGA weren’t my best showings. But yes, I am happy. I mean, it’s been a good job so far. And yes, it wasn’t the best first half of the year, but there were a lot of times where I didn’t have a good start, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a good finish.”

Hours after that interview, Rahm withdrew from the US Open due to a foot injury, further disappointing the 29-year-old major leaguer. After winning the (Masters) and another top 10 in 2023, since joining LIV Rahm is tied for 45th at the 2024 Masters and cut from the PGA Championship – the first time he has failed to make the weekend. the largest in five years.

But Rahm was right about one thing at the US Open – himself I hadn’t I was kidding that. Prior to Pinehurst, and excluding his withdrawal due to injury in one event, he had finished in the top 10 in all seven of his LIV starts. Two of them came third.

Those strong LIV episodes, however, don’t get much attention in the wider golf world. Ratings are not good at LIV events, it’s always hard to track the stream and Rahm is actually in a losing position. Despite the tournament’s top marquee names – Rahm, Hatton, Cameron Smith, Sergio Garcia, Joaquin Niemann, Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson – LIV’s fields are still small with 54 players, and many of those professionals who surround the field are far from household names. .

If Rahm wins, it’s because he should have. If he doesn’t, well, he must be in bad shape. Besides, the big golf audience focuses only on the majors, so many don’t know Rahm’s top-10 parade at LIV. And if so, maybe they weren’t impressed.

After the US Open, Rahm was third at LIV Nashville and then took 10th in Spain, giving him his ninth top-10 in as many starts. A week later he tied for 7th at The Open, his best finish of the year.

“In Nashville and last week, I felt I was getting closer to the top level of golf where maybe there wasn’t a lot of thought about my process,” Rahm said at Royal Troon. “Maybe I’m playing more freely and I’m seeing the ball fly which I want to see more often. Yes, I am getting very close to what it might have been at the beginning of last year. “

On Sunday, Rahm started the day nine under, third back of leader Andy Ogletree and a stroke behind Hatton and Smith. But Rahm turned two under and made three birdies on the fourth hole to start the back nine. As Ogletree faded, it was Rahm, Hatton, Niemann and Smith who claimed the title.

Rahm made his lone bogey at 17, and carded a 4-under 67 to lead the clubhouse at 13 under. He then waited for Hatton to finish. Three putts later, Rahm had won.

“I finally made one,” Rahm said. “You never want to get those feelings to last too long, and getting over the hump feels pretty amazing. It’s been a great week and a great year, and I’m just relieved it’s over.”

Josh Behow

Golf.com Editor

As managing editor of GOLF.com, Berhow manages the day-to-day and long-term programming of one of the most widely read news and service websites in the sport. He spends most of his days writing, planning, organizing and wondering if he will ever break 80. Before joining GOLF.com in 2015, he worked at newspapers in Minnesota and Iowa. A graduate of Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minn., he lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and two children. You can reach him at joshua_berhow@golf.com.