Since its inception, LIV Golf has been under intense scrutiny regarding its growth. However, its strategy of offering lucrative contracts has undoubtedly made an impact. Securing top-tier names like Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, and Brooks Koepka significantly bolstered the league’s profile. While the presence of these stars was expected to shift the competitive landscape, things haven’t entirely gone as planned.
The impact of LIV Golf’s structure and playing conditions continues to be a topic of debate, particularly regarding player performance. Unlike Phil Mickelson, who struggled with declining performance after a switch, Jon Rahm flourished instead. The league has been actively promoting his success, boasting about the influence he has had in his debut season. In his debut season, the Spaniard secured two titles and even now continues to deliver competent performance.
Recently, even the league has been showcasing the impact that the 30-year-old professional has left with his performance. The official LIV Golf page shared a post praising the golfer’s performance of how he has secured 100% top 10 finishes in LIV Golf. Out of the 17 events, he participated in 16 and has a top 10 finish in each. The post had a simple but impactful caption, “…and again.”
The post also displayed a photo of him and the results the golfer has achieved in the past. He recorded 10 top 5 finishes, out of which two came in 2025, while the remaining 6 were top 10 finishes. However, his performance away from LIV has been a concern among fans. In his three major appearances in 2024, his best result was a T7 finish at The Open, raising doubts about his ability to compete at the highest level beyond LIV Golf.
Now the effect of this two-sided performance has become a hot topic of debate among fans, with many criticizing him.
Fan’s flake on his achievements
The Spaniard has won 22 events in his professional career, making his presence a big deal on any golf course. However, his dominance in LIV events has sparked skepticism about the level of competition he faces.
One fan pointed out his performance away from the LIV schedule. The comment read, “He was T45 at eg masters and cut at the PGA Championship last year.” Jon Rahm participated in three majors where he was placed T45 at the Masters, T7 at the Open, and missed the cut at the PGA Championship. Notably, he won the Masters a year before and was placed T2 at the Open. The decline of his performance in Majors is a stark contrast to his LIV plays.
Another comment read, “Is that impressive? 5/40.” The PIF league, unlike other tours, has a limited field event, having 54 players competing without a cut. The format is questionable as not just the roster but the three rounds par 54 as compared to par 72, four rounds are not similar. The performance in a limited field event raised questions about his performance in a bigger roster.
More fans joined in, writing, “Well.. really only competing against like 4 or 5 guys that’s worthy,” and “top 10 should not be a post worthy stat. there’s only 4 other guys out there that should beat a player like Rahm on a regular basis.” Well, Rahm is in a class of his own when compared to his peers at LIV. While some LIV golfers have made their mark in majors—Brooks Koepka, for instance, finished T2 at the Masters and won the PGA Championship in 2023—most have struggled to contend at the highest level. So, is Rahm really playing to what his actual potential is?
Another joined with a similar question, writing, “Come back in PGA and challenge in serious competition.” Rahm’s struggles in non-LIV events haven’t been limited to majors, either. Earlier this year, Rahm also missed the cut at the Hero World Challenge on the DP World Tour, further fueling concerns about his ability to perform outside the Saudi-backed league.
Now, with the exceptional performance at the LIV Golf schedule and the boast by the league, fans have a different opinion. His performance away from the Saudi League is what matters. What are your thoughts on his performance? Can he make his record change this year with his major participation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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