Jon Rahm aiming high: “I still aspire to be the best in history”

Jon Rahm is back in Spain for another edition of LIV Golf Andalucía —one of the crown jewels of the Saudi-backed league, thanks largely to its legendary venue, Real Club Valderrama. Often dubbed the “Augusta of Europe,” Valderrama’s prestige and difficulty make it a standout stop on the tour.

As Rahm navigates a season marked by ups and downs and still searching for his first win of the year, he’s showing signs of locking in his game. Speaking to Spanish outlets including AS, the Basque golfer didn’t shy away from any topic—from his swing mechanics to Ryder Cup hopes as well as the politics swirling around professional golf. With his ambition fully intact, Rahm reaffirmed his decision to join LIV Golf a year and a half ago, while also calling on all sides to work toward resolution in the sport’s ongoing turf war.

What is your first memory of Valderrama?

“My first memory is from 2007, when I came with my dad to watch the Volvo Masters. The first shot I ever saw was on the 7th green—that’s the usual entry point for fans. Thomas Bjørn hit a short bunker shot from the right side and stuck it close. I remember that vividly, and so many other moments from that day.”

What became of the young kid who once dreamed of winning 19 majors and becoming the greatest golfer ever?

He’s still in there (smiles). But I’ve learned some things shouldn’t always be said publicly—that was just youthful excitement. The dream is still alive, and so is the goal. Whether I get there or not doesn’t matter. If I win 10, 6, 7, 3, or 4 majors, it’s still a great career. I’ve always liked having that goal in mind—it’s what’s worked for me since I was little. If I set goals that are too modest or easily achievable, the motivation to train and improve might not be there. For me, striving to be the best is what fuels my passion and excitement.”

What might surprise that ambitious young Rahm most today? Winning two majors, signing with a Saudi-backed league and becoming one of the world’s highest-paid golfers, or becoming a father with three kids?

“Definitely the family. “When it comes to golf, I would’ve thought it wasn’t enough—that I needed to win more. That’s the kind of thing you say when you don’t fully understand yet. Back then, I didn’t picture having one at all. And having three kids before turning 30? That’s pretty rare these days, especially for someone in my position.”

Niemann has racked up six wins since signing for LIV Golf and is currently 88th in the ranking; you have two, and only dropped out of the top-10 last week and sit 68th. Is that fair?

“Not to me, no. I already had strong opinions about it before joining LIV. Hopefully we’ll reach a point where our events count and we earn points, because right now the rankings don’t reflect who the best players really are.“

The years are rolling by and LIV Golf, far from disappearing, has consolidated itself with a hard nucleus of players. What message does that send out?

“Early on, with so little support—and still facing resistance—people criticized what they could: guaranteed money. That’s something golf never had, but every other sport does. It’s a different way to launch a league, and yes, it’s been a bit combative. But things are settling down. It’s hard to argue we don’t care. We all care. Bryson [DeChambeau] hasn’t retired. I haven’t retired. I don’t want to retire.

“We’re less than 10% of the field in majors, but we often have three guys in the top 10, four or five in the top 15. We’re still competitive. The league is competitive. And we’re here to keep improving. I still believe I’m one of the best.

“It’s gaining momentum—especially internationally. The tournament in Australia is massive. Hong Kong keeps growing. It’s a young league. We’ve had 42 events total, which is less than a full season on the PGA or European Tour. People need to ease up on the criticism and see the bigger picture. Things are changing, and I think we’re all reaching a point where enough is enough. Hopefully we find a solution that works for everyone.”

Have you ever doubted your decision to join LIV?

“No. Especially last year, when Kelley had a complicated pregnancy, golf problems felt tiny. I’m not someone who holds grudges. Once I make a decision, I own it—and I’m happy with it. I’m glad to be here this week. I hope things keep improving and the league keeps growing. That’s important to me. Now that I have a team, I hope it gains traction. That’s another source of motivation—something I never expected as a kid. Maybe in five or ten years, we’ll be having a very different conversation.”

In Dallas, you fell out of the top-10 for the first time since joining the league. What do you make of that statistic?

“Whether you win or not, the intention to win never changes. It’s not that I didn’t care about the streak—it’s a stat that adds value to a season. You look back and say, ‘Wow, I won twice and never missed a top-10.’ It adds something. But it’s not something I think about all the time.

“If you’re truly in contention on Sunday and finish seventh because you went aggressive trying to win—that’s one thing. But if you come from behind and shoot low just to sneak into the top-10, it’s not the same. You didn’t really have a shot to win. That’s what I’d like more of".

With a week to go to the British Open, how do you prepare for the challenge of switching surfaces?

“I’m not sure it’s a necessity, but the abrupt transition—yeah, it might be a handicap. The transition is so abrupt—it’s not ideal. It’s a subject that has been discussed a lot. Links golf takes time to adjust to. The greens are slower, the grass is totally different… The good thing about Valderrama is that it settles you mentally, it prepares you for a demanding and often windy course, it doesn’t replicate the conditions of a traditional links course. There are no trees on a links. You have more shot options, you play with the wind, and the short game around the greens is completely different. In the long run, it would help us prepare better for the Open if we had another training option.”

If you could, what would you change about LIV Golf?

“If I could change something about LIV, I’d push for earlier scheduling. We’re already working on it, and so is the league. But it’s mostly about giving fans and players more time to plan. Not everyone has the flexibility or means to travel—especially long distances—to attend tournaments. So having the calendar locked in earlier, like Formula 1 does, would help everyone. Of course, it’s tricky with so many countries and governments involved.

“I really like the change this year where all four players’ scores count each day for the team standings. That’s a great move. I’d also love for us to earn world ranking points. It’s about credibility. But that’s out of my hands.”

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