Jon Rahm makes "sour" admission after sealing third straight LIV Golf title and $18m bonus

Jon Rahm has been crowned as the LIV Golf individual champion for the third year in a row. 

The Spaniard had a forgettable week at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, carding a final-round 5-over 76 to finish on a 72-hole total of 8-over par. 

However, a share of 41st was good enough for Rahm to beat America's Bryson DeChambeau to the season-long award, as he did in 2025 and 2024. 

Rahm also scoops the top prize of $18m (£13.3m).

Chile's Joaquin Niemann finished 24 shots clear of Rahm to claim his ninth LIV Golf title. A closing 70 saw him finish three clear of Harold Varner III on 16-under. 

Former world number one, Lee Westwood, 53, recorded his best ever LIV result with a share of third alongside Zimbabwe's Scott Vincent. 

"The last two weeks haven't been the best, have they," Rahm said, alluding to his performance in the UK, when asked what he was most proud of. 

"I would say [I am most] proud of [my performances] earlier in the season. 

"I think to start off as well as I did with a few second places and not getting the win and then going to Hong Kong and getting it done when I needed to, having a lead and then basically losing it and birdieing four in a row in the last few holes was probably the most proud moment.

"It's been great. It's been a great year. Again, a little sour taste in my mouth because of how badly I played this week. But it's been something to be proud of.

"After last year and not getting the having possibly a question mark over the season-long race, to win twice and do it effectively and win it again definitely feels good."

Rahm's triumph comes at a pivotal moment for LIV Golf. 

In late April, Saudi Arabia's PIF confirmed they would no longer fund the venture after the conclusion of the season. 

The news saw their CEO, Scott O'Neil, face a race against time to ensure LIV's survival in 2026. 

He placed on record the need to raise $300-350m before September. 

On Wednesday, O'Neil claimed LIV had secured an unnamed investor to keep the competition running in 2027, albeit with a reduced schedule. 

No details of the amount of money that will be invested were announced. PIF has invested more than $5bn (£3.71bn) since the league launched in 2022.

O'Neil expects the transaction, which may be a loan, to be finalised in September. 

However, he was far from committal when asked about the future of star players Rahm and DeChambeau. 

During his press conferences, he declined multiple opportunities to state whether or not both will be part of the next iteration of LIV. 

This week, DeChambeau said he would like to play on LIV Golf and the PGA Tour again in the future. 

O'Neil eventually said he would love both to "come along for the ride", adding: "Because they carry maybe more weight than anybody in the game and I have a lot of time for that.

"I think we have enough support from enough players, and we have such an interesting format and global format, I think we'll do quite well in getting the right stars for this game."

The unnamed backer is understood to be London-based private equity firm BC Partners. 

The Athletic reported on Sunday that Ted Goldthorpe, the head of BC Partners, attended LIV Golf New York.

The Financial Times have also reported that the PIF are attempting to pay off player contracts at a discount to settle any potential liability as well as to avoid bad publicity. 

Rahm is thought to be owed $150m.