Jon Rahm addresses theory about LIV Golf format with short and snappy answer

Jon Rahm had one word when asked if the LIV Golf format is responsible for his recent poor form.

“No.”

The Spaniard is back in his homeland for LIV Golf Andalucia at the iconic Valderrama course which Seve Ballesteros made famous at the 1997 Ryder Cup.

That tournament inspired two-time major-winner Rahm to become one of the best golfers of his generation, but since defecting to LIV Golf, the world no.10 has been a shadow of his former self.

Rahm is yet to win on the Saudi-backed tour and simply has not shown up in the majors.

A T45 finish on his Masters title defence was followed by a missed cut at the PGA Championship, before he was forced to pull out of the US Open due to injury.

Some have suggested the £330million move to LIV Golf has directly impacted his form.

Rahm was previously critical of the format – 54 holes, shotgun start, with team elements – before defecting from the more traditional PGA Tour.

That theory was put to Rahm on Wednesday and it resulted in the following exchange…

Journalist: “Is it something in the format that is less competitive than before?”

Rahm: “No.”

Journalist: “So that’s not the thing missing?”

Rahm: “No.”

Journalist: “So what’s missing?”

Rahm: “It’s not easy to win golf tournaments. I’ve been close, I just haven’t got it done.”

Earlier, the Ryder Cup star was asked to rate his season, and he was keen to remind reporters that there is still plenty to play for.

He said: “There’s been weeks where I feel like I scored a lot better than I felt.

“And there’s been a couple weeks where it could have been better.

“[I] haven’t won yet so that would deduct quite a bit from it.

“I would say maybe six to a seven out of ten if I had to say. But the year is not over. Still a lot to play for.

“It would not be unheard of to see a player finish strong and change that to maybe a nine out of ten.

“So far just because I haven’t won, I can’t give it more than a seven.”