Jon Rahm returns where he robbed the bank

Adelaide

Joaquín Niemann, in full swing, has won five of the 11 LIV Golf tournaments this year, and Jon Rahm remains at zero, but with only two events remaining, the Spaniard can still take the season's No. 1 ranking from the Chilean and thus retain his 2024 crown.

The points system of the multimillion-dollar Saudi Super League and Rahm's consistency, finishing in the top 10 on every course except one, explain why the Basque player can still overtake Niemann, champion in Adelaide, Singapore, Mexico, Virginia, and Great Britain, the last tournament he played.

Jon Rahm, statements

"This is how the points system works right now. I think they should probably give more points for winning, that would be great for me, but it could be the other way around next year: if I'm not going to win and I still have a chance to win with two tournaments left, I'm fine with that. It all depends. In the current situation, I'd obviously love to have more points for winning, but this is how the system is set up now," reflected Niemann, 26.

The Chilean admitted that being consistent is "the hardest thing in this game" and, since "Jon Rahm is the most consistent player in the world," he understands why the Spaniard remains so close to him in the standings: Niemann has 206.80 points, 37.64 more than Rahm (169.16). American Bryson DeChambeau, third with 136.24, is the other golfer still with a mathematical chance of reaching the throne, albeit a very remote one.

Each victory at LIV Golf awards 40 points, second place earns 30, and the points continue to decrease from there, with the last players to earn a point being those who finish between 21st and 24th. No points are awarded outside the top 24.

Rahm's assault on the No. 1 ranking will begin this Friday at LIV Golf in Chicago, at Bolingbrook GC, where the Basque golfer will defend his title from last year, hoping to get closer to and even surpass Niemann in the overall standings if he wins.

“Someone told me that in the weeks he hasn't won, Joaquín hasn't been at his best or scoring many points, so with my consistency, I've had a chance to stay close,” conceded Jon, whose team, Legion XIII, leads the standings (218.66 points) ahead of the Crushers GC, captained by DeChambeau (172.00).

Rahm raided the bank last year in Chicago, which closed out the Saudi Super League season. The Spanish golfer won the four million reserved for the tournament champion and was crowned No. 1, also taking home the $18 million bonus. Jon pocketed $22 million in one day, about €19 million at current exchange rates.

Kevin Na names golfers who bring Tiger Woods-level excitement

Bryson DeChambeau

Tiger Woods is a person who is for many a symbol of golf as a sport. Throughout his long career, which is still ongoing, Tiger has shown qualities that we have never seen before. Brilliant performances, incredible mindset and focus are the reason why Tiger is such a beloved figure in the world of golf. 

He is the reason why some people even started playing this sport, watching this sport and enjoying its charms. 

In addition to the qualities on the golf course, the 49-year-old golfer has brought additional excitement to golf fans in various ways. 

Are there golfers in this era who remind you of Tiger? Former PGA Tour player Kevin Na shared his opinion, saying that Bryson DeChambeau is the golfer who reminds him the most of Woods; at least in terms of excitement.

“I think Bryson [DeChambeau] is the closest to it, in terms of the excitement,” Na said, as quoted by the Golfing Gazette.

“I think Rory [McIlroy] is pretty exciting. I think [Jon] Rahm is pretty exciting, and Joaquin [Niemann] is becoming that player as well.

I think there are different characters to the game that bring that kind of energy. Obviously, Tiger was dominating with his power and was blowing the field away. Even though he was four or five behind with nine to play, it was like, ‘he is going to win, he is going to go on a crazy run.’"

Kevin Na was Woods fan

Kevin Na reveals that he was a Woods fan as a kid, just like most kids at that time. Most of them wanted to become a dominant figure on the golf scene, just like Tiger. 

While some are not sure that there are golfers in the world of golf who can reach the heights that Tiger has reached, Kevin Na does not share this opinion. The popular golfer believes that there are some golfers who could leave at least a similar deep mark as the 49-year-old. 

Speaking about the progress of golf in recent years, Na feels that golf has seen great progress, but that it has also become significantly more exciting and fun

“I remember watching as a kid and being a fan of Tiger. It was incredible. But I think there are characters that can follow in his footsteps or become maybe not that Tiger Woods icon level, but up close to that level, and we can have three or four guys kind of equal Tiger.

I think golf has become more entertaining and more exciting than before. In the 90s, I grew up watching golf, and I became a pro in the early 2000s, and I played with all these guys on the Senior Tour who are playing now, and I think golf has become more entertaining."- he concluded.