The Spanish Jon Rahm won LIV Chicago this Sunday with a cumulative score of -11 and was declared the champion of LIV Golf 2024, earning him checks for a total of $ 22 million. Rahm, who signs with LIV in December 2023 for one of the richest contracts in sports history, will earn $18 million for the title of Global Champion of the Year, and four for his win in Chicago.
The player from Barrika played an excellent tournament in which he barely made a mistake, making a bogey in the first round. He finished even on the day and from that moment on he signed -6 on Saturday and -4 this Sunday. He won three shots ahead of his compatriot Sergio García and Chile’s Joaquín Niemann, the only players still in with a chance of taking the title from him.
Rahm faced the Chicago tournament at the top of the LIV player table with 195.17 points and a minimal lead over Niemann, who had 192.20 points. The one from Barica, who signed for LIV last December for one of the richest contracts in the history of the sport until 2023, won the Chicago and United Kingdom events and finished on the podium in six of the season’s twelve tournaments. Only once did he fail to place in the top ten.
Niemann also had a stellar campaign on a personal level. He was the champion at the inaugural tournament at Mayakoba and the third event of the year in Jeddah. He also finished in the top ten in ten of the twelve tournaments. Excellent numbers, but not enough to lay hands on the title. Because Rahm showed tenacity and character in the decisive moment of the season. He started Friday at one under par and the loss affected him more than Niemann.
But everything changed on Saturday, when Rahm had a round of six under par that allowed him to take the lead ahead of his compatriot Garcia, while Niemann was three shots away from his options. Barrica did not tremble this Sunday. He carded 66 strokes, four under par, the result of four birdies, without a single error. He arrived on the final day with an impressive advantage over Sergio García, who signed -2 this Sunday without making any errors.
Niemann competed with commitment and equaled Rahm’s mark with an error-free four under par. He finished three rounds in Chicago tied for last, but could not prevent the Spaniard from winning. Mexican Abraham Ancer finished eleventh with a cumulative score of four under par (-3 this Sunday). While Colombian Sebastián Muñoz, Mexican Carlos Ortiz and Spanish David Puig signed for a total of -1.
LIV Golf, which rivals the PGA Tour in quality and prestige, will conclude its 2024 season with the finals of the team tournament in Dallas next week. The tournament will be held from Friday to Saturday at Marido Golf Club in the Texas city.
