Practically since landing in LIV Golf, Jon Rahm has been constantly thinking about how to improve the product. This is a sign of his involvement in the Saudi league. He knows he’s not just another player and behaves accordingly. He is not authorised to share everything he has in mind, at least until it comes to fruition, but he does leave us with some interesting ideas for the future of LIV. Specifically, he shares three with Ten Golf during the exclusive interview at Valderrama.
First, he drops the bombshell and then takes a step back. He leaves us wanting more. “I’ve suggested a format change for the last tournament, the team championship, but I can’t say anything because we still don’t know if it’s going to happen. This year it won’t be possible, maybe next year, if we’re lucky. That said, there will also be some small changes this year that will be announced,” he assures.
Shortly after, he ventures to give us a hint about the change he has suggested. He behaves. He makes it quite clear. “Well, the only thing I would say is that for me, from what I’ve seen over the last three years of the League, the team final I liked the most was when only two teams faced each other on the last day. The first year it was Dustin Johnson’s team against Cameron Smith’s team. One against one. I like that more. I found it much more fun than having four teams at once,” he assures. Having made the suggestion, he also understands the part that favours having four teams on the last day. “I understand that it doesn’t have as much volatility as when four play, there’s also the television broadcast… In the end, what Fox thinks is important. I don’t know, but I would like it to be two teams.”
Having said this by Jon, here is our feeling. Let it be clear that he hasn’t said it and hasn’t even suggested it, but don’t rule out that another idea is for the team final to be played in match play format.
The second idea Jon puts on the table about LIV has to do with the schedule. It’s almost a logistical note. “I know it’s complicated because there are many countries involved and many governments. We would like to have something similar to Formula One, which has a calendar already made for four years. It might be good to have it two years in advance in LIV. For example, for this week to know the 2026 calendar and next month to announce the 2027 one. Not just for us, but also for the public. Because that way you can plan ahead. I understand that not everyone is at a point in their life, especially financially, where they can have three or four days of holiday and afford it with little notice.”
And the third change he puts on the table has to do with the possibility of playing a links course before the Open Championship, to have at least a week to adapt to the British style of play. “I know playing in Scotland would be very complicated because of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, but maybe we could go to Ireland. We would like that. It would be great. I understand the islands are not very comfortable with LIV, but maybe Ireland is. Right now Adare Manor and the Irish government will be focused on the 2027 Ryder Cup, but maybe afterwards it’s an option to hold a LIV on a links there. Let it be clear this is total speculation, I have no idea,” he notes.
On the other hand, there is a change that has been introduced this year that Jon really likes. It’s the decision for all four team cards to count every day. “That has been a great idea and it’s working very well,” he notes.
