Jon Rahm’s Stellar Performance Secures LIV Golf Mexico City Victory
Jon Rahm delivered a masterclass performance on Sunday, closing out the LIV Golf Mexico City tournament with a remarkable 7-under-par 64. This final round was the best of his week, allowing him to pull away and claim the title in Naucalpan, Mexico. Rahm finished the event at 21-under 263, securing a six-shot victory over fellow Spaniard David Puig, who carded a 66. The top three finishers were all from Spain, with Josele Ballester placing third at 14 under.
Rahm’s win marks the sixth consecutive top-five finish to start the LIV season, including victories in Hong Kong and Mexico City, along with three second-place finishes. The two-time major champion described his feelings after the win as a mix of disbelief and relief.
“I think a little bit of it is disbelief,” Rahm said. “I’ve performed poorly down the stretch on this course having a chance to win before, so it’s almost like I don’t let myself believe it. If you would have told me last week on Thursday afternoon that I’d be winning by a six-shot margin this week, I would not have believed you because of how bad I played. Hell of an effort, and just what a Sunday.”
A Strong Start and Key Moments
Rahm entered the final day with a two-stroke lead and quickly extended his advantage. He went 5 under on a four-hole stretch, starting with a birdie at the second hole. His powerful drive on the 390-yard, par-4 third hole landed just 3 feet from the cup for an easy eagle.
He continued his momentum with a 13-foot birdie at the par-3 fourth hole and a 20-foot birdie at the par-4 fifth. From there, no one could catch up to him. Rahm closed his round with 11 pars and two back-nine birdies.
“Your need a lot of fight because even today on the scorecard it might look smooth,” Rahm noted. “But the three-putt on 7, had to make a nice 4-footer on 8, the par on 9, the par on 10, that stretch right there could have been very complicated. It’s true from then on I played very well and never really stressed, but that was the key moment of the round.”
Team Success and a Strong Finish
This victory also marked the first time this season that Rahm’s individual success translated into a first-place finish for his team, Legion XIII. The team won this event for the third consecutive year, finishing 45 under for the week.
Two of Rahm’s teammates, Englishman Tyrrell Hatton and Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin, were part of a five-way tie for fifth at 11 under. The fourth team member, Caleb Surratt, ended the week at 2 under. Collectively, they finished nine shots better than Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC.
David Puig led the Fireballs’ scoring this week, recording four birdies and an eagle on his first 10 holes before slowing down with a 5-under 66. Puig expressed pride in his team, which included countrymen Josele Ballester and Luis Masaveu.
“We’re youngsters, but we really are feeling like we really want to win,” Puig said. “We put a lot of hours behind it, and it’s just kind of great to see that it definitely paid off this week. But yeah, I didn’t really feel at my best (this week). Today was by far the best day, how I hit it.”
Other Notable Developments
Bryson DeChambeau, who was 2 over par through three rounds, withdrew before the start of the final round due to a wrist injury. His absence left a void in the competition, but Rahm’s performance ensured a memorable finish to the tournament.
The event highlighted the competitive nature of the LIV Golf series, with top players delivering strong performances and teams working together to achieve success. With the season continuing, fans can expect more exciting moments and fierce rivalries in the weeks ahead.
