Jon Rahm says the LIV Golf Championship ‘can't compare to Majors,’ dubs it a ‘different accomplishment’
Jon Rahm won the 2024 LIV Golf Chicago at Bolingbrook on Sunday (September 15). The Spaniard shot 4-under 66 in the final round to finish at 11 under and beat Joaquin Niemann and Sergio Garcia by three shots. He registered his second win in three events and claimed the circuit’s individual championship.
Rahm won $4,000,000 for his victory in Chicago and added a whopping $18,000,000 bonus for the Championship victory. Following this, the 2023 Masters champion came out to state that the LIV Golf victory can’t be compared to Major championships. The 29-year-old, who joined the breakaway tour last year, dubbed the season-long win a ‘different accomplishment.’
The two-time Major champion lauded LIV Golf’s season-long championship system. Replying to a media query on comparing the LIV Golf Championship to the tournaments he’s won before, the golfer said it’s a ‘different feeling’ to win based on the culmination of points.
Jon Rahm said, as quoted by ASAP Sports:
“It's a different accomplishment because it's not just one week. Can't really compare anything to Majors in the sport that we live in, but being able to win the season-long race in two out of the three big leagues and having almost done it on the PGA Tour, as well, it's a different feeling.
"Just being able to culminate all the good golf all season, and especially doing it by winning individually today I think is what makes it so much more special, knowing that I had to win and getting it done is something to really be proud of and something to reflect on.”
Jon Rahm went on to state that the season-long title didn’t ‘exceed his expectations.’ He noted that his Legion XIII winning the team championship next week would beat his wish.
He added:
“I accomplished a goal, yeah. I wouldn't say it exceeded my expectations because I had a few other chances to win, with Greenbrier and Mayakoba being the two closest. But it definitely met what I expected… I could say maybe it will exceed the expectations if we get the win done next Sunday.”
Jon Rahm beats Joaquin Niemann to LIV Golf Championship win
Jon Rahm ended his first year in the LIV Golf by winning the individual championship. The Spaniard came into the circuit’s regular-season finale with almost equal odds of winning the title alongside Joaquin Niemann. The Chilean golfer, a two-time winner at the start of the season, shot 66 and tied for second with Sergio Garcia.
Rahm won the season points title with its $18,000,000 bonus after gaining a three-shot lead at the Bolingbrook Golf Course. This was the golfer’s second win in the Saudi-funded league, adding to his title in England last month. Notably, the golfer had the opportunity to make it three in a row at Greenbrier last month. However, he lost in a playoff to Brooks Koepka.
It is pertinent to note that Jon Rahm was the biggest name to join the Saudi-backed league last season. His move to the circuit in December caused major havoc as several PGA Tour players and officials openly discussed the ambitious move and the hefty paycheck he received.
Since the move, the 11-time PGA Tour winner has been in the top 10 at every LIV event he completed, making him an instant favorite on the circuit.