This LIV Golf season spanned 13 tournaments across 9 countries. While Rahm didn't secure a victory in any of them, he finished second 4 times and only once outside the top 10 (T11 in Dallas).

Jon Rahm lifts the 2025 LIV Golf trophy at The Club at Chatham Hills, Indianapolis on 15/8. Photo: X / JonRahmOfficial

"Rahm has achieved a remarkable feat," commented Gazzetta dello Sport, comparing the Spaniard's victory to Emilio Alzamora's 1999 125cc motorcycle world championship win without a single race victory. In the final race of that season, another Italian rider, Marco Melandri, was so furious that he tried to sabotage Alzamora, who was in second place right behind him. Melandri slowed down, hoping to push Alzamora off the track, but failed and still had to witness his compatriot win the title.

Golf isn't a sport where players can physically take each other down, but they can use their minds to torment their opponents. That’s precisely what Rahm did to Joaquin Niemann, the top Chilean golfer of the season with five wins: in Adelaide, Singapore, Mexico, Virginia, and the United Kingdom. However, lacking consistency, Niemann finished second, less than 3 points behind Rahm, and watched the Spaniard take home the championship and the $18 million grand prize.

In the final two tournaments of the 2025 season, Rahm lost in playoffs to Dean Burmester in Chicago on 8/10 and Sebastian Munoz in Indianapolis on 17/8. Yet, he emerged as the overall champion, successfully defending his LIV Golf title.

At The Club at Chatham Hills on 17/8, Rahm focused solely on his own game, playing alongside Niemann and David Puig, both just a few points behind him. The Basque golfer ignored the leaderboard, concentrating on the Indianapolis tournament and aiming for a birdie-filled scorecard to increase his chances of winning.

This wasn't easy with Dustin Johnson, the first LIV Golf champion, and Munoz three strokes ahead on a golfer-friendly course. The wide fairways and accessible, gently sloping greens allowed for aggressive "Tiger line" shots, named after the legendary Tiger Woods. Due to heavy rain, officials even allowed golfers to clean and place their balls on the fairway, rendering any records unofficial. Conditions were favorable, especially as Rahm hit the sweet spot with his tee shots, scoring birdies on holes 1, 2, and 5.

It was on the 5th hole that Niemann, usually excellent under pressure, showed weakness. A sigh and an exclamation, "Oh my God, this guy is playing so well!", revealed his faltering confidence. Witnessing Rahm's birdie, coupled with his own bogey and a tossed putter, marked a moment of vulnerability. For the first time, Rahm led the individual LIV Golf race.

But The Club at Chatham Hills has 18 holes, and the challenge continued. Niemann, as he had two days prior, eagled the 7th hole and regained the lead. Rahm finished the first half of the round with his fifth birdie, playing textbook golf: hitting every fairway, wielding his wedges like extensions of his arm, and putting flawlessly. He maintained a three-stroke lead over Niemann, who still held the top spot due to a slight points advantage.

Rahm's performance across the 13 LIV Golf 2025 tournaments:

Determined to score under 60 to win both the Indianapolis tournament and the season title, Rahm continued his strong play, sinking a birdie on the 10th hole. Even spectators who had chanted "USA" days earlier when he missed shots, with the Ryder Cup approaching, jostled between holes to shake his hand.

Niemann responded with a birdie on the 11th, sinking a confident putt. Rahm nearly retaliated but was thwarted by a "corbata" putt (one that lips out) on the 12th. After a moment of frustration, he quickly recovered with a spectacular eagle on the 13th, thanks to a long putt, and tied for the lead.

Rahm faltered on the 14th. A mishit, striking ground instead of ball, and a ball swallowed by the rough led to his first bogey, marring his scorecard. But great challenges demand great responses. On the 15th, Niemann's second shot landed half a meter from the hole, while Rahm's was a mere half centimeter away. "Rahm's smile was like a dagger to Niemann's heart, and he continued to dismantle his opponent on the next two holes with birdies, taking the sole lead as Munoz lost his touch with a poor swing," Gazzetta dello Sport reported.

On the 18th, Rahm landed on the green and birdied again. He pumped his fist in excitement, finishing the round with an impressive -12, leading the clubhouse with a total of -22, well ahead of Niemann at -17. This seemed enough for Rahm to clinch the title.

However, the round wasn't over. Johnson fell back to -19, and Munoz also reached -22, forcing a playoff between Munoz and Rahm. Rahm was unlucky: Munoz's second shot landed two meters from the hole, while Rahm's, though better, hit the flagstick and bounced away. He missed the putt, and Munoz won the Indianapolis tournament.

This was Rahm's disappointment. But, in the style of Alzamora's motorcycle racing triumph 26 years earlier, Rahm remained the 2025 LIV Golf champion.

Compiled by Hoang Thong