LIV star Jon Rahm hits unwanted career milestone

It was almost five years ago that Jon Rahm first reached No.1 in the world. 

The Spaniard has enjoyed a cumulative 52 weeks atop the men’s golf rankings since climbing to the peak with victory at the 2020 Memorial Tournament. But since his move to the LIV Golf League in December 2023, Rahm has slowly slipped down the standings.

The breakaway LIV league does not carry OWGR status and many of their biggest names have plunged down the rankings with limited chances to accrue ranking points. And now, for the first time in eight years, Rahm sits outside the world’s top 50.

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After LIV’s Adelaide showpiece last weekend, Rahm dropped to 52nd in the rankings, the lowest place he has occupied since winning the Farmers Insurance Open back in 2017. Rahm’s fall, of course, owes to his LIV move rather than a dramatic decline on the course.

The OWGR system has been deemed obsolete by many across both side’s of the game’s divide, with the 54-hole LIV circuit unable to meet the criteria to offer points in their tournaments.

DataGolf recognises LIV in its own rankings, placing Rahm fourth behind Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele after he won the LIV individual championship in his first season.

Rahm, however, will not be able to climb the ladder once more without either a seismic change to golf’s landscape, or vastly improved performances in the majors. He finished tied seventh at the Open in 2024, but missed the cut at the PGA Championship, finished T45 at the Masters and missed the US Open through injury.

Rahm’s exemptions through his two major victories crucially ensure he doesn’t need to worry about the OWGR system as a means to qualifying for the big four tournaments.

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But while the R&A and USGA have both announced new exemption pathways for LIV in recent weeks, Rahm is still adamant that the league deserves to be recognised with world ranking points.

“I think at this point to not give LIV World Ranking points and the credibility it deserves, I think is wrong,” Rahm said at last month’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

“I understand we’ve all made a decision, and it’s not as easy as it sounds, but to say that LIV players don’t deserve some spots in major championships, I think, is wrong, and I hope that evolves into what it should be.

“The world ranking points need to figure something out because it’s not fair for anybody in that sense.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.