Jon Rahm faces daunting reality after fellow rebel delivers LIV Golf verdict
Spanish golf giants Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia are hoping to dominate LIV Golf this year – with the latter winning on home soil in Andalucia at the weekend despite missing out on The Open
Sergio Garcia has fired a warning at Spanish compatriot Jon Rahm after winning the LIV Golf event in Andalucia at the weekend.
Garcia earned his first win on the circuit after besting India’s Anirban Lahiri in a play-off. The 44-year-old shot a final-round 66 at the Real Club Valderrama as he ate into Lahiri’s seven-stroke lead heading into Sunday.
The victory on home soil pushed Garcia into third in LIV Golf’s individual standings, one behind position behind Rahm by just 1.93 points. Garcia is also 42.16 points behind leader Joaquin Niemann. Garcia will be keen to get the better of his compatriot Rahm this season.
“Obviously we all want to win, and sometimes it doesn’t happen, unfortunately, but they’re all great weeks, and they’re weeks that you can learn a lot from,” the Spanish star said. “Even though when you just finish, it stings and it hurts and it’s tough, then when you settle down and you start thinking about it and all the great things you did throughout the week to give yourself a chance, you realize that it was a great week. Obviously, this week is even better, but they’re all good learning experiences.”
Garcia added: “Without a doubt [one of the highlights of my career]. Hopefully, Spain wins tonight. It would be an unbelievable weekend. But I played well, played well in the playoff. It’s just a tough hole. But so happy.”
It was a good weekend for Spanish sport as 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz won his fourth Grand Slam, a resounding three-set victory over 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon. Spain also won the soccer European Championship for a fourth time, a third this century, with a 2-1 win over England in Berlin, Germany.
Attention will now turn towards The Open at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. Some Scots may be cheering on Rahm at the weekend when he hits the course, just as they did for Spain on Sunday. “Played all 18 holes, and I think I got more congratulations for something that I didn’t do than I ever have in my life,” Rahm said Tuesday.
SOTOGRANDE, SPAIN – JULY 14: Sergio Garcia of Fireballs GC celebrates with the trophy after winning the LIV Golf Andalucia at Real Club Valderrama on July 14, 2024 in Sotogrande, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) ( Image: Getty)
“I don’t know what they’ve done, but anytime anybody plays against the English national team, every other country in Europe just unifies against them. I think because we’ve heard “It’s Coming Home” so many times the last few years that nobody wants to see it come home at this point.”
The major championship season ends with the British Open, and Rahm hasn’t produced – especially since jumping ship for LIV Golf. Rahm barely made the cut at the Masters, followed by missing the cut at the PGA Championship. He also didn’t even get to play in the U.S. Open because of a foot infection.
“Last year from the Masters on I didn’t really play my best,” Rahm said. “Ryder Cup was the only resemblance to maybe the early part of the year. But Nashville and last week (LIV events), I felt closer to getting to a higher level of golf where maybe there isn’t as many thoughts on my process. Maybe I’m playing a little bit more freely and seeing the ball flight that I want to see more often. I’m getting much closer to what it might have been early last year.”
