Jon Rahm takes dig at media after winning LIV Golf UK - "I was taking a lot of criticism"
Jon Rahm hadn't enjoyed as much success as he would have expected in his first season with LIV Golf, going without a win in the first ten events of the season. After enjoying great success on the PGA Tour, it was a surprise to see him go winless for so long. But he finally ended his drought by earning a win at LIV Golf UK with a -13 overall score.
Rahm said via Bunkered after his first win:
"I'm my worst critic. Most of it was I hadn’t won in a while, and I had given myself a chance and I didn’t get it done. I tried to use it as motivation and told myself if I put myself in that position again, I was going to try my hardest to take advantage of it, so I’m glad I did."
The Spaniard also felt like what he read in the media wasn't reflecting how well he thought he was doing. He added that even finishing in the top 10 felt like it wasn't good despite it being a prestigious placement.
The former PGA Tour star continued:
"Just because I had poor performances at the Masters and the PGA, I think I was taking a lot of criticism for two weeks on how I was really playing and how I really felt. So it feels really good to actually perform the way I did on the weekend last week and carry that over and win it."
Rahm added that he understands being in the public eye comes with criticism. He said he and others in his position have to use that as motivation to do better. Rahm's outing over the weekend was just good enough to win, as he finished one stroke ahead of Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton.
Jon Rahm says first LIV Golf win was emotional
Emotions were high after Jon Rahm's first win since he left the PGA Tour. The golfer earned a tight victory, one he'd been searching for since his move to LIV Golf at the beginning of this year.
He said via Golf that it was "emotional", adding that this year hasn't been an easy one for his family. He and his wife have gone through a lot with her on bed rest, and he had hoped to bring her a trophy to ease some of the stress.
Jon Rahm said:
“She did tell me, our son Kepa said to bring a trophy home in this stretch of golf, and I started to believe it was going to happen at one point today. Maybe not in the last 20 minutes. But at least I can look at them and say I’m bringing one home for them.”
Things tightened up down the stretch, but Rahm made the plays he needed to earn the win.