Jon Rahm: Media criticism was ‘fuel’ for first LIV Golf win

Jon Rahm is finally a winner again.

The 30-year-old was without a win since the 2023 Masters – his second major triumph and 20th career title.

That all changed on Sunday, however, as the Spaniard hoisted silverware into the Staffordshire sky after winning the first LIV Golf UK event.

Reflecting on the win, Rahm was glad to put questions over his winning mentality to bed.

It’s despite finishing inside the top ten in every one of his ten completed starts on the Saudi-backed circuit this season – a point Rahm would later bring up.

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“I’m my worst critic,” he said following the victory.

“Most of it was I hadn’t won in a while, and I had given myself a chance and I didn’t get it done.

“I tried to use it as motivation and told myself if I put myself in that position again, I was going to try my hardest to take advantage of it, so I’m glad I did.”

Rahm almost had to enter a play-off with teammate Tyrrell Hatton, until the Englishman three-putted his way into the scoring tent.

The pair had done enough to secure Legion XIII’s fourth LIV team title, and another $3 million payout.

But the ‘fuel’ for getting Rahm over the line was criticism over his performances in this season’s major championships.

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“For the most part, I’ve felt like from what I’ve read in media it’s that I guess maybe my play hasn’t reflected how good I really felt about my game,” he said.

“I felt like I was playing good, and I guess top ten is not enough anymore, even when I didn’t feel my best in some of the weeks.

“Just because I had poor performances at the Masters and the PGA, I think I was taking a lot of criticism for two weeks on how I was really playing and how I really felt.

“So it feels really good to actually perform the way I did on the weekend last week and carry that over and win it.

“When you’re in the public eye, you’re going to get criticized. You almost have to use it as fuel to motivate yourself.”

Rahm is set to tee it up at the Olympics this week, representing Spain alongside fellow LIV golfer David Puig.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Tryst Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.