WATCH: Jon Rahm aims for redemption after Paris Olympics heartbreak with birdie at LIV Golf Greenbrier
Spanish golfer Jon Rahm suffered a heartbreak at the recently concluded 2024 Paris Olympics. The Spaniard is now playing at LIV Golf Greenbrier, and he started his event with a birdie.
Rahm was one of the most consistent players during the European leg of the tour, even winning LIV Golf UK. He is currently second in the individual standings behind Joaquin Niemann. LIV Golf Greenbrier will mark his debut at the par-70, 7,299 yard course.
Jon Rahm is coming off an unfortunate campaign at the Paris Olympics. While he was in the leading pack for the first three rounds, several errors on his part saw him lose his four-point lead. This eventually cost him a podium finish.
He placed fifth, while US golfer Scottie Scheffler took home the gold medal. Tommy Fleetwood of England bagged the silver medal, and Hideki Matsuyama of Japan won the bronze medal.
Now at LIV Golf Greenbrier, Jon Rahm will be looking to bounce back. This will also be his opportunity to topple Joaquin Niemann from the top spot in the individual rankings ahead of the final event of the season in Chicago next month. The team championship will be held in Dallas the week after.
"I'm getting a taste of how much it really mattered" - Jon Rahm on Paris Olympics loss
Spanish golfer Jon Rahm had gone into the 2024 Paris Olympics as a strong contender for the gold medal. He has been one of the most consistent players on the LIV Golf roster this year and even won the UK event, making it his first victory on the tour.
However, major blunders on the last eight holes in the final round cost him a podium finish at Le Golf National. He hit four bogeys and then a double bogey to surrender his contention for the medals. Rahm spoke of his performance and noted that everything seemed to go downhill on the last few holes. According to LIV Golf's official website he said:
"I know they look like mistakes on the board, but it just doesn't feel as bad as it looked on the last few holes, which is probably where I'm going to have to learn about what happened."
He added:
"But make that putt, I'm at 17, who knows. I put that ball on 18, it's a doable pin. I could have given myself a chance to tie Tommy for silver. … On 18, it's just unfortunate I couldn't really give myself a better chance to take Hideki into a playoff."
Despite the defeat, Rahm found his Olympic week to be meaningful. He said:
"Two of the most meaningful weeks in my career is two events where we make no money. I've said that a million times, and I'll say it again because the Ryder Cup and this one are up there."
Although Jon Rahm did compare the Olympics with the Ryder Cup, he later noted the difference between the two tournaments.
"It's different to the Ryder Cup. It's different. It's not a major either. But I feel like it's almost the ultimate prize representing your country. And that's what makes it so special."
When asked about his performance, he said it was "lot more painful" to not win a medal for his country.
"I don't remember the last time I played a tournament and I felt this. I not only feel like I let myself down but to just not get it done for the whole country of Spain, it's a lot more painful than I would like it to be."
However, the loss gave Jon Rahm much "deeper" appreciation for the Olympic Games than he would have felt had he won a medal.
"I've gotten the question, where this tournament would rank in my opinion or what I would think it would feel like to win, and I think by losing today, I'm getting a much deeper appreciation of what this tournament means to me than if I had won any medal. I'm getting a taste of how much it really mattered. I've been very honored to represent Spain in many, many different events, and to not get this one done stings quite a bit."
Rahm also had some positives to take from his performance at the Paris Olympics, especially with the LIV Golf season still ahead of him.
"At one point between Friday and the front nine today, probably about as good as I've played since early last year. So that's a massive positive to think about going towards the end of the season in LIV. I would have liked to play that good earlier in the year but it's nice to, on a fourth week in a row, to put up that performance. It's too bad I couldn't finish it off."
Jon Rahm's win at LIV Golf UK was his first event win since the 2023 Masters. He will now be looking for redemption at the Greenbrier event, where he has already made a birdie in his first attempt. The event will wrap up on August 18, 2024.