Jon Rahm has really disappointed in the majors over the 18 months or so, but he finally put himself back in the mix on the biggest stage at the PGA Championship.
Rahm left the PGA Tour to join the LIV Golf league at the end of 2023.
Since then, he has only one top-10 to his name in the majors – a tie for 7th at The Open in 2024.
However, his performance during the first three rounds of the PGA Championship this week evoked memories of the old Rahm.
Before his third round began, Rahm said he needed a round of 68 or better at the PGA Championship.
And the Spaniard achieved his goal in the end.
Now he will have a real chance of winning his first major championship in two years on Sunday.
Jon Rahm shares real reason why he’s failed to compete in a major since 2023
Rahm’s fall from grace in the majors has been somewhat surprising.
He has been in superb form on LIV, and is still yet to finish outside the top-10 in one of their events.
However, many golf journalists and fans alike believe that his move to the Saudi-backed golf league is the reason behind his failure to compete in majors.
However, Rahm does not subscribe to that notion.
The 30-year-old said, “Me going to LIV and playing worse in majors had nothing to do with where I was playing golf. My swing was simply not at the level it had to be for me to compete. It’s easier to post a score on non-major championship courses and venues, and I think when you get to the biggest stages like this one and these courses, those flaws are going to get exposed, and it did.
“There’s been weeks where I was able to play better, like The Open last year. The Masters obviously wasn’t a good start, but it got better as the week was on, and I’m still working and trying to get my swing to a better spot.
“But I would say even 2023, after winning the Masters, I did not play good at all until the Ryder Cup, right. So I think the problems began earlier than people think. But I’m now getting closer to a position of being comfortable. I think this week so far and this round has been a show of it.“
Rahm clearly feels like he has turned the corner now. A strong final round on Sunday will silence his critics.
However, a poor one will give oxygen to his doubters.
PGA Tour need Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau back
The sad thing is that Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau will most likely not be able to break their contracts to leave LIV within the next two or three years.
However, after that, the PGA Tour need to go all out to bring both players back.
Rahm and DeChambeau are box office superstars, and they have already proven at the PGA Championship that they’re more than good enough to compete at the highest level on a consistent basis.
Whether they both regret joining LIV Golf is up for debate.
But what is certain is that they would make the PGA Tour product a better one.
If the PGA Tour are unable to tempt them back, then a merger with LIV Golf will be a necessity as far as I’m concerned.
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