Brooks Koepka edged out Jon Rahm in a playoff to claim the LIV Golf Greenbrier title on Sunday, securing his fifth career victory in the Saudi-backed series. The win marks Koepka’s most prized on the LIV Golf circuit, as he battled hard against Rahm throughout the final round.
The men’s golf competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics is heating up with a tight race for gold. Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm are tied for the lead, one shot ahead of Tommy Fleetwood. Several top players are within striking distance, making for a thrilling final round.
Jon Rahm, coming off a LIV Golf victory, arrives at the Paris Olympics with renewed confidence. His recent win, combined with a strong finish at the British Open, offers a welcome contrast to a challenging year in major tournaments. The Olympics, with its star-studded field and international spotlight, provides Rahm a unique opportunity to shine before his year concludes.
Jon Rahm, a two-time major champion, acknowledged the significance of selecting ‘walk out music’ for his tee shot at the iconic ‘Watering Hole’ at The Grange Golf Club during the LIV Golf event. Rahm emphasized the need to find a balance between adrenaline and control on the demanding 151m hole.
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has expressed openness to the possibility of adopting a 72-hole format for the Saudi-backed golf circuit. This comes in response to a request from star recruit Jon Rahm, who believes the traditional format would enhance fan trust and improve the tournament’s value. Norman acknowledged the economic implications of extending the tournament to four days, but emphasized the need to optimize the event for spectators and participants. The issue of branding, given LIV’s symbolic association with the 54-hole format, remains a potential concern. Rahm emphasized the unifying aspect of a shared format across rival golf tours, drawing comparisons to European football competitions.
Golf analyst Brandel Chamblee has been a vocal critic of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league. Chamblee has criticized the league’s format, its players, and even accused Jon Rahm of turning his back on the history and legacy of the sport. Rahm recently said that he believes his move to LIV could be a “tipping point” for players making a switch to the Saudi-backed league. Chamblee called the money offered by LIV Golf “malevolent in nature” and said that players can “pretend that the impulse to take the money is good,” but the truth was far from it.
