Jon Rahm a Major Disappointment Since Switching to LIV

Jon Rahm withdrew from the U.S. Open on Tuesday, citing an infection in his left foot. This is yet another setback in what has been a lackluster year for the former top-ranked golfer, who now struggles to keep pace with Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and other top players in the sport.

Rahm arrived at Pinehurst wearing one flip-flop to keep his foot dry, as a lesion between his pinky and ring toes had led to an infection. This injury had already forced him to withdraw from LIV Houston the previous week, despite receiving a pain-killing injection during that tournament. Unfortunately, his condition didn’t improve much at Pinehurst, leading him to withdraw from the U.S. Open well before the first round. He announced his decision on Twitter Tuesday afternoon, stating, “The pain was high. The infection was the worrisome part. The infection is now controlled, but there’s still swelling and there’s still pain.”

Rahm’s foot infection is another unfortunate event in an otherwise forgettable 2024 season. Rahm joined LIV Golf in December 2023, and within six months, his standing among the elite golfers seems to have declined. Currently ranked No. 8 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), this is his lowest ranking since the summer of 2019. Unlike the PGA Tour, LIV does not contribute to the OWGR, affecting his ranking. According to Data Golf, which includes LIV performances, Rahm is ranked No. 7, his lowest since a brief fall to No. 8 in 2022. For comparison, Scheffler is gaining 3.11 strokes per round relative to the average PGA Tour field, Schauffele 2.53, while Rahm is at 1.63, nearly a full shot worse per round than Schauffele.

Despite these challenges, Rahm remains a premier talent and is arguably the best player to join LIV. However, his performance in 2024 has been underwhelming. He finished 45th in the Masters among 89 players and missed the cut at the PGA Championship. Now, with his withdrawal from the U.S. Open, he needs a standout performance at the Open Championship at Royal Troon to make any significant impact this major season.

In LIV events, Rahm’s performance is also concerning, with no wins in eight starts, despite competing against a smaller and less competitive field. Although he has secured seven top-10 finishes, his lack of top-two finishes is disappointing given his stature as a former world No. 1.

Rahm, however, maintains a positive outlook. “It’s not like I’ve been playing bad, even though a lot of you make it sound like I’m playing bad,” Rahm told the media before withdrawing. “I had two bad weeks. I’ve been top 10 and had a chance to win in most of the tournaments I’ve played and then unfortunately Augusta and PGA weren’t my best showings. It hasn’t been the best first half of the year but there’s been many times where I haven’t had a great start but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great finish.”

Rahm’s current situation is frustrating because he has been one of the most intense and competitive golfers in recent years. He is now playing in LIV events like Houston and Nashville, which attract smaller crowds, instead of prestigious PGA Tour events like the Memorial and the Travelers Championship. The Memorial, in particular, is a significant event where Rahm has a history of strong performances, having won in 2020 and likely to have won again in 2021 if not for a positive COVID-19 test while leading.

The lack of fan engagement and the smaller field sizes in LIV events contrast sharply with the more competitive and well-attended PGA Tour events. This disparity is also reflected in viewership, with LIV events drawing significantly fewer viewers than PGA Tour events. For example, the Memorial attracted 2.85 million viewers, whereas LIV’s viewership was only 148,000. While these numbers don’t include streaming data, the difference is stark.

Rahm’s talent and competitive spirit seem more suited to the larger stages of the PGA Tour rather than the relatively quieter LIV events. His career highlights include significant victories and memorable moments, such as critical putts at Torrey Pines and a decisive birdie putt at the 2020 BMW Championship to beat Dustin Johnson. He also demonstrated remarkable resolve in winning the 2023 Masters.

There is concern that Rahm’s move to LIV may diminish his intensity and the memorable moments that have defined his career. These are prime years for Rahm, and he should be competing against the best in the most significant tournaments. He deserves to be regarded as one of the elite golfers, on par with players like Scheffler. Currently, however, Rahm’s performance is not at the same level as his peers.

The golf world eagerly awaits Rahm’s return to form. His presence and competitive spirit are essential for the sport, and there is hope that he will come back strong and reclaim his place among the best.