Jon Rahm
Spain's greatest modern golfer — a double major champion who won the US Open despite being forced into COVID quarantine days before, then added a Masters title in 2023 before making the controversial move to LIV Golf.
Jon Rahm was born on 2 November 1994 in Barrika, a small coastal town in the Basque Country, Spain. He turned professional in 2016 after a celebrated college career at Arizona State University, and from his very first season it was clear he was something exceptional — a player of ferocious talent, thunderous ball-striking, and a competitive intensity that bordered on volcanic.
Rahm reached world #1 for the first time in 2021 and held the position across multiple stints, establishing himself as the dominant non-American force in men's golf during the early 2020s. His game is built on extraordinary ball-striking from tee to green — he consistently ranks among the best in the world for driving accuracy and iron play — allied with a short game that, when at its best, is as good as anyone's.
His major championship record reflects both his talent and his resilience. The 2021 US Open at Torrey Pines, La Jolla, California carried one of the most remarkable backstories in recent major history: Rahm had been forced to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament just weeks earlier after testing positive for COVID-19, despite holding a six-shot lead. He returned to competition and, weeks later, won the US Open at -6, holing a dramatic birdie putt on the 18th green. The emotional outpouring was genuine and enormous.
In April 2023, Rahm completed a second major at Augusta National, winning The Masters at -12 in a performance of sustained brilliance. It cemented his place among the game's true elite. Then, in late 2023, he made the decision that would define his career narrative for the near future: Rahm joined LIV Golf.
Jon Rahm joined LIV Golf in late 2023. LIV Golf is the Saudi Arabia-backed breakaway tour launched in 2022. Players who join LIV Golf are ineligible to compete on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour under current regulations, and their OWGR (Official World Golf Ranking) points accumulation is affected, as LIV events did not initially carry OWGR points (this position has evolved — check latest results for current status).
Crucially for UK fans: LIV Golf players remain eligible for all four major championships — The Masters, US Open, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship. Rahm will continue to appear at Augusta, Hoylake, and other major venues. He is ineligible for the Ryder Cup, however, which is restricted to players competing on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
The LIV question is contentious in professional golf, and coverage of Rahm's career is now necessarily framed by it. For UK fans watching majors, he remains a significant presence and a legitimate threat to win on the biggest stages.
| Year | Major | Venue | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | US Open | Torrey Pines, La Jolla, California | -6 | WON |
| 2023 | The Masters | Augusta National | -12 | WON |
Rahm has recorded multiple top-ten finishes across all four majors throughout his career, reflecting consistent major-championship form over a sustained period.
Rahm leaves Arizona State and turns professional, immediately displaying the power, precision, and intensity that will carry him to the top of the world rankings within five years.
Rahm accumulates wins on both the European Tour and PGA Tour, including the Spanish Open and multiple US events, cementing a top-5 world ranking.
Forced to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament with a six-shot lead after a positive COVID test, Rahm returns weeks later to win the US Open at Torrey Pines at -6. He sinks the winning putt on 18 and the emotion is raw and immediate. Spain celebrates its first US Open champion.
Rahm reaches world number one for the first time, confirming what his results had been signalling for two years: he is the best golfer on the planet.
Rahm wins The Masters at Augusta National at -12, becoming Spain's first Masters champion. His performance over four days is one of the year's finest in any sport. He holds world #1 at the time of the win.
Rahm joins LIV Golf, leaving the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. The decision is controversial in golf circles but Rahm remains eligible for all four major championships. He is no longer eligible for the Ryder Cup.
Despite his move to LIV Golf, Rahm remains a major championship contender and UK fans will see him at Augusta, the US Open, the PGA Championship, and The Open. LIV Golf events themselves have limited UK broadcast distribution — check Sky Sports for current LIV coverage details.
- The Masters (Augusta): Sky Sports Golf + BBC highlights — Rahm is a defending champion and always in contention
- US Open: Sky Sports Golf — always a favourite
- The Open Championship: Sky Sports Golf + BBC
- PGA Championship: Sky Sports Golf
- LIV Golf events: Check Sky Sports for current coverage schedule
Note: Rahm is not eligible for the Ryder Cup following his move to LIV Golf under current regulations.