Golf
LIV Golf star’s awkward response over ‘competitiveness’ sparks heated PGA debate
Jon Rahm reignited the conversation surrounding which is more competitive – LIV Golf or the PGA Tour – while discussing his poor season since signing a £450million Saudi deal
Jon Rahm has insisted his dip in form isn’t because of a lack of competitiveness in LIV Golf.
The former world No. 1, who’s a two-time major winner with triumphs at the 2021 US Open and 2023 Masters, has been far from his best this year. He made the controversial decision to defect from the PGA Tour in December.
Rahm is yet to win on the Saudi-backed competitor, while the majors have been a source of frustration. He finished T45 at Augusta, missed the cut at the PGA Championship and had to withdraw from the US Open due to a foot infection.
As a result, he rated his season so far as a six or a seven out of 10 in a press conference ahead of LIV Golf Andalucia in his native Spain. A journalist then questioned: “Is it something in the format that is less competitive than before?”
Rahm replied: “No.” He was asked again: “So that’s not the thing missing?” And he once more bluntly responded: “No.” The reporter continued to push the matter, probing: “What’s missing?”
“It’s not easy to win golf tournaments. I’ve been close. I just haven’t got it done,” answered the 29-year-old. His comments reignited the LIV-PGA debate amongst fans.
One argued: “It should be easy to win in LIV tournaments, Jon. Very few players there that would be competitive on the PGA.” Another told him: “The answer is yes, LIV is less competitive by a mile.”
“Haha you can not sit there and tell me that LIV is just as competitive. You LIVer’s man,” replied a third, while a fourth added: “Just because he doesn’t ‘feel’ like it’s less competitive doesn’t make it less true. The results speak for themselves.”
On the flip side of the argument, one simply said: “Better golfers at LIV.” A second claimed: “If anything @livgolf_league is harder to win… only three rounds… no more slacker Thursdays… come ready to play or hit the bricks!”
A third pointed out: “His team (Legion 13) has finished first, he finishes in the top five or 10 of nearly every LIV event, dealt with a foot injury, and the season isn’t over. His game is not in decline. Clue to the clueless, no one wins all the time. Golf has its cycles.”
And a fourth suggested: “Only a win at LIV Andalucia, The Open or the Olympics can save Rahm’s season. He has found out the standard on LIV higher than expected.”
A big victory would certainly silence Rahm’s doubters. He was brutally labelled a “competitive irrelevance” since his £450million move to LIV by pundit Eamon Lynch earlier this week.
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