It has been another interesting year for LIV Golf, with Bryson DeChambeau becoming their second player to win a major since joining, while Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann look set to battle it out over the league’s individual title this season.
Of course, golf’s civil war continues. The PIF and the PGA Tour held talks this week as they attempt to map out the sport’s future. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to imagine LIV Golf going anywhere once a resolution is finally found.
LIV is far from perfect. The legitimate concerns about those in charge remain. But the product also remains a work in progress, with viewing figures not proving to be particularly impressive. Their live stream of the final round from LIV Golf Greenbrier has attracted 155,000 views at the time of writing, while the Creator Classic has 1.9 million views.
LIV also needs more depth. While they have several outstanding players in their ranks, the league largely relies on a handful of big names and there seems to be a big gap to the majority of the rest.
LIV Golf star been a big disappointment in 2024
Some may have expected this year to look very different for LIV following the announcement that they had signed Jon Rahm, with the Spaniard creating his own Legion XIII team. Rahm was the world number three when he made the jump. And there seemed to be a good chance that it would force the PGA Tour to step up talks.
Rahm has had a superb year on LIV, winning once and finding himself top of the individual standings ahead of LIV Golf Chicago. However, he has been less impressive in the major championships, with just one top 40 finish.
And that is why Ryan Lavner has picked out the 29-year-old when asked to name some of his biggest disappointments throughout the season.
“Jon Rahm was a disappointment for me. I know he finished in the top 10 at The Open Championship, I know his strokes gained numbers are pretty good, I know he has finished inside the top 10 in every LIV event he has played, but again, when you’re going to have so few opportunities for all of the best players to play together against each other, very disappointing title defence at The Masters, very disappointing missed cut at the PGA Championship, didn’t even suit up at the US Open at a venue in Pinehurst that would have suited him quite well, because of the foot issue,” he said.
“And then he finishes in the top 10 at The Open Championship but never had a serious chance to win that golf tournament. The Olympics as well, which probably could have salvaged a 2024, yes, blowing a five-shot lead on the back nine at Le Golf National, not ideal as well.”
Jon Rahm definitely has a point to prove in 2025
Perhaps it would be a little unfair to label Rahm one of the biggest disappointments from the year, when he has been so consistent on LIV. It was particularly surprising that he had not won before their event at JCB given his form.
Lavner has previously suggested that Rahm has struggled to adapt to the 54-hole format, and that has had an impact on his performances in the majors. And it must be disappointing for Rahm that his move to LIV has seemingly not led to the game coming back together.
He definitely has a point to prove in 2025, even if he wins the individual title this season. Certainly, it appears that Rahm is only likely to get any credit from neutrals for his move once he has added a third major title to his resume.
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