Jon Rahm admits his victory finally yr’s LIV Golf UK was a heart-rending second.
The Spaniard’s win on the JCB Golf and Nation Membership noticed him scoop a whopping $4million (£2.95m) in prize cash after successful by a single stroke on his solution to claiming the person title.
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Rahm went toe-to-toe with American Andy Ogletree who was the in a single day chief going into the ultimate third spherical.
However back-to-back double bogeys on his again 9 noticed him spiral from the highest of the leaderboard.
Rahm was tasked with overcoming the specter of Legion XIII teammate Tyrell Hatton within the closing levels.
Hatton three-putted on the 18th inexperienced, inflicting him to fall to 12-under-par the place he joined Joaquin Niemann and Cameron Smith in second place.
Why did Rahm not really feel pleasure in pipping Hatton to victory?
Regardless of claiming victory, Rahm appears again finally yr’s victory as a bittersweet second in his profession.
“In a bizarre manner, it is at all times going to be a bittersweet reminiscence,” Rahm advised a press convention forward of the 2025 UK occasion.
“I do not know if there’s been many circumstances the place two teammates have gone at one another to win the person title after which go on to win the workforce title as properly, and also you by no means wish to see a teammate and a good friend make a mistake on the final to win.
“Once more, in a bizarre manner, as a lot as I like that I received right here, it isn’t one thing that I can have a good time in that sense, simply because it was such an uncommon circumstance.
“It is a type of issues that occur in LIV, and as we get higher, because the league will get higher, I believe it is one thing that is going to occur an increasing number of typically.
“However as first-timers having to cope with that, it was definitely no enjoyable, I can say that, as a result of then I get the person win, we’re on the rostrum collectively, and we’re celebrating the workforce, and clearly he’ll be upset that he did not get it finished as properly individually.
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“I believe it might have been barely awkward both manner for one in every of us.
“As great because it was and in addition to I performed, nonetheless, not one thing that I bear in mind in the identical gentle as different victories.”
Rahm is hoping for the same final result this time spherical however trails chief Joaquin Niemann who tops the standings.
The Chilean had been profitable in 4 of the ten occasions handy himself a 12 level lead on the high.
In the meantime, Legion XIII high the workforce standings after a stable 2025 season up to now.
The workforce fronted by Rahm have completed within the high three in six of the ten occasions and have but to complete under sixth in any occasion.
Has Rahm’s relation modified with Hatton because the win?
Requested whether or not his relationship with Hatton had modified after teaming collectively and competing towards one another final yr, Rahm says the pair have now learnt extra about each other.
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“I am going to let you know the one factor we have discovered about one another we have I’ve gotten to know much more our style on wine,” Rahm joked.
“At first it was like, I prefer it; I prefer it too. However then you definately get to know, okay, what do you want. In order that’s been a bit extra profound. You get to know one another a bit bit extra.
“One factor about each of us is that as a lot as we could act on the golf course, we’re not afraid to make enjoyable of one another or make enjoyable of ourselves.
“We have shared a couple of laughs about issues we could have finished on the course. They get to snort as properly as a result of they do not do this. It is a good time for everyone.
“I believe, like another friendship, normally, you simply get to know one another a bit bit higher.
“It is a steadiness, proper, as a result of we spend a whole lot of nice time collectively however we additionally wish to beat one another, and once we’re taking part in collectively it is manifestly apparent that we wish to beat one another, however we do not say it.
“However it’s what it’s. It is a pleasant competitors as properly inside issues, and I believe that is why it really works so properly as properly.”
The UK occasion is among the many hottest on the schedule with the JCB Golf and Nation Membership internet hosting the occasion for the second time in succession.
The occasion, which tees off on Friday, shall be performed over 54 holes throughout three days, with a shotgun begin every day and no minimize.