Jon Rahm opens up on 'weird' LIV Golf title race: "It should be more one-sided"

Jon Rahm says it feels 'weird' he's still in the running for LIV Golf’s individual crown.

The Spaniard became the PIF-backed breakaway's marquee signing for the 2024 season, penning a multi-year deal said to be worth north of $500m.

He went on to win LIV's season-long race in his maiden season - never finishing outside of the top-10 and picking up two individual victories. 

But this season Rahm has not had thing his own way, with Chile's Joaquin Niemann storming to a remarkable five wins from 12 starts. 

Niemann should have an unassailable lead, but Rahm finds himself in the scenario where he could still clip the 26-year-old to the $18m bonus.

"He's a fantastic competitor, fantastic golfer, great person as well," Rahm told reporters before their final event of the regular season in Indianapolis.

"It's a lot of fun to share the stage with him. He's obviously been playing great golf, and even though I was able to get the best of him last year, he certainly made the job hard this year.

"I guess I never thought about it this year, and I feel like in a weird way, it should be more one-sided with what he was able to do, with how many wins he's had this year. 

"I guess consistency can pay off, but man, winning five times anywhere, anytime is incredible. My hat's off to him to what he's been able to do. Hopefully I can get the job done this week and pull off the upset.

"But I would like him to continue doing what he's doing and hopefully I can elevate my game to be able to compete with him more often and maybe steal a few of those wins that keep that going.

Not that I would ever think it's a rivalry or anything like that, but he's certainly put himself there. Seven wins in two years is spectacular. 

"It's somebody that's a lot of fun to play with. I think both of us being Spanish speakers, it's just a little level of comfort that we have, and just admire his game as well. It's just fun to watch him play golf."

"It was a struggle that year"

While it would be unfair to say Rahm's form dipped after joining LIV, it has to be said that he wasn't at his best in the major championships last year.

Rahm missed the cut at the PGA Championship, struggled in his Masters defence and posted a respectable top 10 at The Open.

He was forced to sit out the US Open at Pinehurst with a toe injury.

This year, Rahm made all four cuts in the majors with his best finish a share of seventh at the U.S. Open at Oakmont.

Rahm said he is yet to hit his 'A' game since 2023. 

"I think as golfers or as athletes or performance, there's an idea of where we'd like to be," he said. "In my mind that is so astronomically high that I would always feel myself far away from that in a way, just as a motivator to keep working every day.

"There's been weeks where I've played really good, but I would say overall, I haven't hit my 'A' game in quite a while. I think maybe B+ is the best we've seen in a better part of two years, starting in 2023, after The Masters. It was a bit of a struggle that year.

"Ryder Cup [in Rome] was one of the weeks where I saw part of the 'A' game. I think Chicago last year was close to that as well. Greenbrier, Chicago was close to an 'A' game. But for overall, it's been around Bs."

"I may be being a little harsh"

Rahm previously spent 52 weeks at the summit of the Official World Golf Rank before he was de-throned by Scottie Scheffler. 

Rory McIlroy made a point of just how confident he felt at the Ryder Cup in 2023 playing alongside a player of Rahm's calibre.

Rahm was asked if he finds himself comparing himself to others when he feels his game is not where he wants it to be. 

"No," Rahm said. "I try to compare with myself because the competition should be within myself and what I can do and what I can control. 

"Obviously scores tell you how far you are from the next guys, but the way I evaluate it I just haven't been able to win as much as I would have liked to. 

"I've definitely been in position and had chances, but I haven't been able to get it done. Comparing it to that.

"Again, when I'm saying not playing my best, I may be being a little harsh. But it's from there to what I know I could be is what I'm comparing it to and what I'd like to be.

"It's close, but it's just been a little bit difficult, and it all started with changes in 2023. 

"I think I've said that, and having to adjust some equipment and some bad behaviours in the swing that are harder to get rid of than one would like. 

"It's very easy to create new bad habits, and it's very hard to get rid of them. So it's been a bit of that, but I can see the changes and improvement coming.

"I'm extremely hopefully for whatever is coming in the future, as well. Looking forward to that."