Jon Rahm achieved yet another top 10 finish on the LIV Golf tour at this weekend’s event in the United Kingdom.
The Spaniard finished in a tie for fifth at the JCB Golf and Country Club, seven strokes behind winner Joaquin Niemann.
However, Legion XIII (Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, and Caleb Surratt) won the team event by eight shots over Niemann’s Torque GC at 35 under par.
After the tournament concluded, Rahm reacted to his team’s victory and offered huge praise to an up-and-coming LIV golfer.
Jon Rahm praises Caleb Surratt after LIV Golf UK podium finish
Legion XIII’s victory at LIV Golf UK was their fourth this season. Rahm explained why they have been so dominant recently.
“It’s always hard to say one thing, right? Obviously, picking up Tom this year is a massive addition, right? He’s a phenomenal player,” he said.
“With all four scores counting this year, I thought we played to our advantage. It showed early on, and it’s showing now.”
Rahm then praised the team’s lowest-profile player, Caleb Surratt, who stepped up at LIV Golf UK with an impressive third-place finish.
“I think middle of the season, none of us played our best,” Rahm continued. “I said last week, I was looking forward to Caleb hopefully having a good tournament and not needing to birdie something like the last four holes for us to win.
“Good to see the scoreboard and see just that. He’s a phenomenal talent.
“I don’t know what’s going on on 18, but I’m hoping he can make a birdie and hopefully finish second. If not, it’s the first podium in his career, first top 10; he should be proud of that.”
Jon Rahm explains decision to sign Caleb Surratt to Legion XIII
While Rahm, Hatton, and, to a lesser extent, McKibbin were big additions to Legion XIII, Surratt did not come with a significant reputation.
The 21-year-old had a successful amateur career, winning the junior PGA Championship and being named First Team All-American at the University of Tennessee, but LIV Golf was the first chapter of his professional career.
Rahm explained why he decided to take a chance on Surratt straight out of college and what he thinks of the American golfer now.
“Yeah, he’s a phenomenal player,” he added. “I think my goal was always to try to keep the core of the team young. We did just that.
“Even with Kieran [Vincent] last year, and Tyrrell and I being the older guys last year, 33 and 29. Not like the craziest thing in the world, right? I think that was a big part of why the team has done well.
“Yeah, he might have some inexperience, but he has the world ahead of him and a whole career ahead of him.
“It’s expected for somebody like him to maybe have a couple of rough weeks, but he’s played really good golf, and I hope this is the confidence booster he needs to take it to another level.”
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