Jon Rahm “very relieved” as 539-day drought comes to an end in Hong Kong

539 days — barely a blip in the life of a mid‑tier pro golfer — is all that separated Jon Rahm’s previous win from the one he captured this Sunday at the LIV event in Hong Kong. But for Rahm, one of the most dominant players of the century, that drought felt like an eternity.

Rahm’s first triumph since 2024

His victory marks his third in the Saudi‑backed super league, following wins in the U.K. and Chicago in 2024, and the 22nd of his career across the three elite tours he’s played over the past decade (23 if you count the Hero World Challenge exhibition). Eleven came on the PGA Tour, eight on the DP World Tour — and now another massive payday: $4 million, pushing his earnings in this structure to nearly $79 million in just two and a half seasons.

And he did it during one of the most turbulent stretches of his career — a period defined more by off‑course drama than on‑course brilliance. His long‑running dispute with the DP World Tour over unpaid fines took an ugly turn this week when he publicly rejected a settlement offer, accusing the tour of “extortion.” Yet Rahm’s best golf resurfaced in a mental environment that would have crushed most players. It felt like a message: this slump didn’t make him ordinary. He’s still a champion, and he expects to be treated like one. The timing couldn’t be better, with the Masters at Augusta now less than a month away.

The cold streak that defined the end of his 2025 season — a year full of top‑10 finishes but no trophies, including 12 top‑10s in 13 starts and three runner‑up results — turned into pure dynamite on Sunday. Rahm poured in eight birdies on his way to a sensational 64, finishing at 23‑under and leaving Belgium’s Thomas Detry and American Harold Varner III in the dust. Many believed LIV’s shift from 54 to 72 holes would suit Rahm perfectly, and it took him only three tournaments to prove them right. Had the event ended after three rounds, he would’ve needed a playoff with Detry. Over 72 holes, he didn’t even give him a chance.

Rahm built a three‑shot cushion over his playing partner with a brilliant stretch from holes 3 to 8, where he carded four birdies. The lead tightened between 9 and 12, where he played +1, but he slammed the door shut with a devastating run from 13 to 16 — four straight birdies, textbook iron play, and flawless execution on a course that offers plenty of scoring chances.

Detry finished at 20‑under, Varner at 18‑under, and neither ever mounted a real threat. Rahm reached the 18th tee with room to breathe. Even when his final drive sailed into the trees, he didn’t flinch. He calmly asked spectators to clear space, punched a wedge back to the fairway, hit the green, two‑putted, and walked off with a harmless bogey. It looked easy. It wasn’t.

“Very relieved,” Rahm said afterward. “Happy I could enjoy that walk up 18. I missed a few shots coming in, but it didn’t matter. I came in with the mindset of committing to every swing. I played great all day. Could’ve gone even lower if not for a couple of putts. I stayed patient all week — there’s always a stretch of four or five holes where you get stuck. It was a tense week, and I had no idea how I’d hit the ball, but I got better every day. I expect more, but I think my game is in a good place.”

Behind him, David Puig closed strong with a 4‑under round to finish at 14‑under and crack the top 10. His Fireballs captain, Sergio García, also finished eighth, though far from the form he showed last year when he won at this same venue. Further back were Josele Ballester at 8‑under and Luis Masaveu, who salvaged a rough week with a 6‑under finish to end at 3‑under.

The team title went to Dustin Johnson’s 4 Aces, as DJ continues to look more and more like the version of himself that once ruled the world rankings — a ranking Rahm is set to climb again on Monday for the first time in a long while.

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