Jon Rahm victorious at LIV Golf Chicago earning $22 million payday for winning event, season-long race

Jon Rahm did just enough Sunday to hold off Joaquin Niemann and Sergio Garcia for the victory at LIV Golf Chicago, the final individual event on the schedule this year. The win ends a winding year for Rahm in which he was great at LIV Golf events but not so great at major championships.

Rahm shot 66 in the final round and fended off some pressure from Niemann, who matched the Spaniard’s score, late in the day. The ultimate champion closed par-birdie-par to get to 11 under for the week, edging Niemann and Sergio Garcia by three shots.

The victory in Chicago netted Rahm $4 million, but the spoils did not stop there. After battling Niemann for the season-long points crown, Rahm took an $18 million first prize for winning that title.

“Today was a special day in many ways,” Rahm said. “I woke up really nervous today, as I thought I would. And even warming up, I told [caddie Adam Hayes], ‘Man, I’m nervous.’ 

“But then I started thinking, playing with Sergio and Brooks [Koepka]. Last time both me and Sergio played good, it was a good Sunday in Valderrama; Sergio ended up winning. Last time I went up against Brooks, he ended up beating me. I wanted to hopefully do a really good showing this time and maybe get it over the line.

“Just really happy to have played as good as I did. To go bogey free on the weekend, one bogey all tournament, it’s quite spectacular. Very proud of how I played today and very proud of that putt on 17, which made 18 a lot easier.”

The putt on 17 was a long birdie Rahm made to get to 11 under and take a three-shot lead to the final hole.

The Chicago win is Rahm’s second for LIV Golf this year. It also marked his 12th top 10 in as many LIV Golf events he’s finished (Rahm withdrew from LIV Golf Houston). Add it all up, and he narrowly beat out Niemann, who also claimed two individual titles, as the No. 1 player on that tour in 2024.

Rahm joins Talor Gooch (2023) and Dustin Johnson (2022) as individual champions across LIV Golf’s first three years of existence. This season was Rahm’s first as part of the league.

Rahm is not done yet in 2024, however. His squad, Legion XIII, will play in the team championship next week at LIV Golf Dallas. Rahm then plans to fly to Europe to play in a handful of DP World Tour events that will help him keep his membership in that lague while ensuring he remains eligible or the 2025 Ryder Cup. 

“I’m flying home tonight because we know the baby can come anytime,” said Rahm, whose wife, Kelley, is about to have their third child. “I’m going to enjoy it on the flight, and being able to sleep in my own bed next to my wife tonight is all I need. But yeah, I’ll definitely enjoy it Monday morning maybe while seeing some of my friends at home and just with the family.

“I think the biggest celebration I can have is the fact that I get to drive my kids to school tomorrow morning, and I think that’s going to be a joy more than anything else.”

Rick Gehman, Kyle Porter and Mark Immelman recap the 2024 Procore Championship and everything else in an eventful weekend in golf. Follow & listen to The First Cut on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.