Jon Rahm has claimed he’s looking to push LIV Golf to make a change to their schedule ahead of next year’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
The breakaway league is getting set for its sell-out UK event at JCB Golf and Country Club before heading back to the US for the final three events of the season.
Rahm has impressed since turning his back on the PGA Tour in 2023. The Spaniard currently sits second behind Joaquin Niemann in the individual standings. However, Eddie Pepperell believes Rahm’s decision to join LIV has massively impacted his chances in the majors.
Jon Rahm pushing for change to LIV Golf
Despite enjoying a successful season on LIV, the 29-year-old has had his issues with the current format. Rahm has admitted the 54-hole layout doesn’t suit him, and now the 2023 Masters winner is pushing for another alteration.
Ahead of last week’s Open Championship, LIV Golf was in Andalucia. The windy conditions were no doubt good preparation for Royal Troon, but Rahm now believes a links stop must be incorporated in order to prepare for the final major of the year.
“I would hope so; I’m pushing for it [links event],” Rahm told Golf Digest. “There’s so much that goes into adjusting to links golf, getting used to the greens and the ball reacting on the ground. I didn’t think about it until after [Troon], but it’s undeniable how much it helps to play a links golf course the week before the Open.”
The two-time major champion now intends to pitch the idea to his fellow LIV stars. “Obviously, LIV management contracts in place with some venues and plans in the future,” he said.
“It’s not as easy as it sounds to just say, ‘Well, let’s do this.’ [But] it’d be something I would like to talk to other players [on LIV] about because that way, there’s strength in numbers if five, six or ten solid players [all agree]. I think a lot of people might agree with it.”
Another UK event makes sense for LIV Golf
After the event at JCB sold out in quickfire time, another UK stop feels like the right move for LIV.
With seven events in America, perhaps dropping one of the US stops to add a links venue would be the right move.
PGA Tour players got ready for The Open at the Scottish Open, which took place a week prior at the Renaissance Club.
Potentially adding a Scottish or Irish stop before next year’s event at Portrush would be the most sensible move from LIV chiefs.
However, as Rahm mentions, adding another tournament to the schedule requires a lot of work, which might be unattainable within the next 12 months.
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