Jon Rahm responds to Brooks Koepka LIV Golf theory after PGA Championship heckle
Jon Rahm is in the hunt for his second major title at the US PGA Championship after a brilliant third round at Quail Hollow, but was asked about his LIV Golf move
Jon Rahm fired his best round in a major since joining the LIV Golf ranks, finding his form once again at the US PGA Championship.
The 30 year old Spaniard left the PGA Tour for one of sport's most lucrative contracts in December 2023, a decision that many thought would derail his career. The same switch has seen other big names regress significantly, with Dustin Johnson hitting new lows and Brooks Koepka missing consecutive major cuts for the first time ever.
Koepka, who had given the champions dinner a miss, faced jeers about his switch during his round on Friday, finishing nine-over-par to miss the cut. A spectator taunted him with "That's what guaranteed money does to you, Brooks," eliciting Koepka's challenge: "You want to come down here and say it?"
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However, after notching a four-under 68, leaving him six shots under entering Sunday at Quail Hollow, Rahm was adamant that his downturn in major performances was unrelated to his LIV Golf participation. He pointed to preexisting issues with his game rather than his tour affiliation.
"Me going to LIV and playing worse in majors had nothing to do with where I was playing golf," Rahm declared. "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 was solid on the opening two days with one-under 70 scores but found another gear on moving day in Charlotte, North Carolina. He came storming out of the blocks with two birdies in his first two holes, then reeled off three in a row between 14 and 16.
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It was not all smooth sailing. He had to recover from a frightening moment when he got his approach shot on 11 all wrong and hit a fan directly on the head with his ball.
Rahm said: "After I hit it and we saw the ball bounce out, which I haven't seen a ball ricochet like that in a while. I mean, if it was a driver, you would expect it, but for a 6-iron, I mean, that thing came in sideways quick.
"I told Adam (caddie), well, get the Sharpie ready because I'm going to have to give him something, like a signed glove."
Navigating the notorious 'Green Mile,' he encountered a setback with a bogey on the 17th but managed to complete a compelling round delayed by morning storms that prompted changes in tee times and turned pairings into trios.
Rahm shared: "I mean, hard to express how hungry I may be for a major, about as hungry as anybody can be in this situation.
"Very happy to be in position again. Don't know where I'll be. I'm assuming I'll be at least one shot back starting tomorrow but that's a great position. This golf course is tricky and one shot is nothing on 18 holes.
"Very happy with the state of my game. I think today was the round that I knew I was capable of. Those first two rounds felt very confident, and just did everything a little bit better. So just very excited again to be in this position and looking forward to hopefully having a good Sunday tomorrow."
