Jon Rahm fired a final round 67, culminating in a 54-hole score of 200, to clinch a deeply meaningful victory in the esteemed $25 million LIV Golf UK tournament at JCB Golf & Country Club in England. The 29-year-old Spanish golf virtuoso not only secured his first individual LIV Golf title but also played a pivotal part in leading Legion XIII to their fourth team win of the season. Rahm was joined by his victorious teammates, including golfers Tyrrell Hatton, Kieran Vincent, and Caleb Surratt. This win was highly anticipated since the two-time Major champion's entry into the League last December, yet it was tinged with sadness as it came at the cost of his close friend and fellow team member, Hatton.
Rahm and Hatton began the final round aiming to overtake the 36-hole leader, Andy Ogletree of HyFlyers GC. Ogletree started strong with back-to-back birdies and led by four strokes at one juncture before the competition began to narrow his advantage. A double-bogey on the eighth hole kept Ogletree in contention, but consecutive double bogeys on the 14th and 15th holes dashed his hopes, resulting in a final round 74 and a tie for sixth place. Rahm, meanwhile, posted a five-birdie round, with his sole blemish coming on the 17th hole.
“Undoubtedly, you always aim to win, and it’s a selfish desire to achieve that,” Rahm remarked, reflecting on his first win since the 2023 Masters. “However, it’s not pleasant to witness a teammate and dear friend miss a putt that could have changed the outcome for me. It’s an uncommon scenario none of us are accustomed to.” Rahm shared that his wife, Kelley Cahill, and son Kepa had encouraged him to bring home a trophy during this golf stretch, a wish he was finally able to fulfill.
Dubai-based golfers Adrian Meronk (Cleeks GC) and Anirban Lahiri (Crushers GC) concluded the tournament in ties for 16th and 39th places, respectively. Meronk’s scores of 68, 69, and 70 left him at six under par, while Lahiri’s rounds of 69, 72, and 73 placed him one over par. The next LIV Golf event, the 12th in the series of 13, will take place in Greenbrier, US, from August 16th to 18th, 2024. The final event to decide the Individual Standings will be in Chicago from September 13th to 15th, 2024, followed by the Team Championship in Dallas from September 20th to 22nd, 2024.
