Jon Rahm shows class with Joaquin Niemann comments after LIV Golf win

Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann are locked in a tight race for the LIV Golf season title. Rahm claimed his first victory on the LIV Golf circuit this past Sunday at the JCB Golf and Country Club, closing the gap to Niemann at the top of the standings. Despite Rahm’s win, Niemann’s late surge saw him finish in a tie for second place, allowing him to maintain his lead in the rankings.

Rahm’s victory earned him a substantial $4 million prize and 40 points. Niemann, with five birdies in his last 10 holes, finished the tournament with a six-under-par 65, earning 24 points and safeguarding his lead in the Individual Championship.

With only two events remaining in the season—The Greenbrier from August 16-18 and the Individual Championship finale in Chicago from September 13-15—Niemann holds a 24.23-point lead over Rahm. Niemann, who began the year with victories in Mexico and Saudi Arabia, has consistently placed in the top 10 in seven of the eight subsequent events.

Rahm, having finished in the top 10 in all 10 LIV events he participated in this season, is determined to make the title race exciting. Following his recent win, Rahm praised Niemann’s performance, saying, “He still had a fantastic Sunday and finished tied for second, so I didn’t really catch up as much as I would have liked. He has two wins and an incredible season so far. He’s a fantastic player.”

Rahm acknowledged Niemann’s resilience and skill, stating, “Clearly, last year he didn’t have the year he thought he could have had. He figured something out because he finished the year by winning overseas and continued that great momentum into this year, winning early on a couple of times. The weeks he’s not winning, he’s pretty much always up here. He’s a great competitor, a great golfer, somebody who has all the tools to keep putting himself in a great position and giving himself chances.”

Rahm hopes to continue his strong performance, adding, “Hopefully, I can keep doing my job and do it well and keep putting myself in a good position, hopefully get more wins, and maybe we have a nice little show going on the last day in Chicago for the individual title. Whoever gets it done, it’s been an incredible year for either one.”

The final two individual events will also determine the fate of players at the bottom of the standings, with big names like Bubba Watson, Pat Perez, and Harold Varner at risk of relegation from the league.