Jon Rahm is already in Hong Kong preparing for the fourth event of the year of the Saudi league that starts this very Friday. It is the first time that LIV Golf visits this country and also the first time that Rahm himself lands in Hong Kong. So far the individual victory is resisting a Jon who will try to add his first triumph in LIV this week. The Barrika native has gone through the press room with Bryson DeChambeau to attend to the media and review the news.
Among many other topics there was one that could not be overlooked. The question was mandatory, what does Jon Rahm think about the decision that LIV Golf desists in its attempt to add world ranking points? Rahm makes his position clear: “Honestly I didn’t know that LIV was still trying to get points for the world ranking. The only thing I can say is that I go back to what I said two years ago at the DP World Tour Championship. I didn’t think it was a good system then and the more time passes, the more it shows that the world ranking was wrong”. To which Jon Rahm wanted to add: “I think anyone who watches golf can tell you who the best players in the world are, and obviously I don’t think the ranking reflects it right now in its entirety”.
For Jon the current clearest example is that of the Chilean Joaquin Niemann, champion of three titles this season, two in LIV and his title at the DP World Tour tournament in Australia: “If someone in this world, for example, does not believe that Joaco deserves to be among the top 10 or does not know that he is a top player in the world or I don’t know what game he is watching”, has concluded the Barrika native.
What is the solution? Therein lies the crux of the matter. What Jon is clear about is that not everything happens because the players exert pressure: “Our job should not be to make the rules or impose the rules or enforce the rules. We are here to entertain, and it is the task of the governing bodies to do so and adapt to changes in the environment”. To which DeChambeau added: “I think there is no better way to explain it”.
Rahm also took the time to congratulate Niemann himself on the invitation he received for the Augusta Masters and for the PGA Championship: “I am very happy to see that Joaco receives invitations. Fairly, he has shown interest in qualifying in many different ways and has played as it is supposed to be played, so I think it’s good that he receives invitations”. The two-time major champion sees these invitations as a good opportunity: “I think it’s the beginning of something positive, that they now give a player a chance”, but he doesn’t stop there and goes a step further: “Before we know it, there will be a solution for all this. Little by little the door is being opened to a broader conversation”.
However, for Jon the invitation to the Chilean is not enough and he has remembered the LIV 2023 champion, Talor Gooch: “I think there is a player who played very well all last season and who has been left a bit out of this conversation, and I’m not saying that all these majors have to invite him, but I think they should consider an invitation for Gooch. He was the best player here last year, and if that doesn’t show having played good golf and being worthy of being in the majors, I don’t know what it takes. Although we still don’t have a clear path from LIV to the majors, I think they should take everyone into account”. Simple and direct, Rahm will miss Gooch in the majors.
To finish and completely changing the subject, Jon has had grateful words towards Phil Mickelson after the latter gave the young member of Legion XIII, Caleb Surratt, some advice last week: “Phil has always been willing to help anyone long before even LIV Golf. I have never seen him reject anyone. If he has time, he does it. I think when you’re a good player like Phil and someone is encouraged to learn from you, it’s nice to be able to help them”. Mickelson and Rahm, two great friends.
Two days to the start of the fourth stop of LIV in this 2024. We will see if the fourth time is the charm for Rahm.
