Rahm brushes off LIV turmoil as he chases a long‑awaited Valderrama win

Jon Rahm arrived at Valderrama — arguably the most iconic golf course in continental Europe — with one goal in mind: golf, and nothing but golf. But with LIV Golf navigating one of its most turbulent moments yet, especially after the Saudi Public Investment Fund officially stepped back from the league’s financial structure, the questions were inevitable.

Rahm, though, wasn’t biting.

When asked what role players should have in attracting new investors — and whether they’d be willing to put in their own money to secure LIV’s future — he shut the door quickly. “Shoemaker, stick to your shoes,” he said. “I have no idea about investments. My job is to play golf, and the people who know about this should handle it. If we ever reach a point where drastic decisions are needed, we’ll see. With the U.S. Open coming up, I’m not thinking much about that.”

He added that he’s willing to help, but life is full right now. “With three kids and another on the way, I don’t exactly have time to travel the country helping Scott O’Neil sell the product like Bryson DeChambeau. Even if I wanted to, I’m not sure I could.”

Rahm praises LIV’s global push

Rahm highlighted one thing he believes LIV has done right: taking golf to places starving for top‑tier events.

“What we saw in Australia or South Africa was beautiful,” he said. “These are places that want great golf and haven’t always had the chance. It’s emotional. LIV has a real hunger to bring golf around the world — like Formula 1 or tennis. I’d love to see bigger tournaments in Australia, South Africa, Hong Kong, China, Japan…”

He even tipped his cap to Rory McIlroy for traveling to places like Australia and India in recent years. “His presence can make a big impact.”

A last dance at Valderrama?

This could be LIV’s final stop at Valderrama, which has hosted the league four straight years. A move to Madrid was discussed last year, but political interests — including aligning the event with Formula 1’s September arrival — clashed with LIV’s schedule, which wraps in August.

Rahm, sensing this might be his last chance here for a while, is laser‑focused on winning.

“I’d love to win here,” he said. “It’s a course where I’ve played either really well or really badly. The moment you land in Málaga, you feel the urge to win. I’ve won on two different courses in Spain, but joining the list of Valderrama champions would be special.”

He laughed recalling a chat with Javier Reviriego, the club’s general manager: “He always tells me the wall of champions is missing my photo. That motivates me.”

PGA Championship gave him a spark

Rahm’s form is trending upward despite a 16th‑place finish in Korea — his worst LIV result in two and a half seasons. His performance at the PGA Championship in mid‑May, though, felt like a turning point.

“It confirmed that some of the things I’ve been working on are clicking,” he said. “But in golf, the moment you say ‘I’ve got it,’ it disappears the next week. Playing three rounds under par on such a tough course was great. Hopefully I can keep it going heading into Shinnecock and maybe win one.”

Valderrama as a U.S. Open preview

With the U.S. Open returning to Shinnecock Hills — site of some of the tournament’s most chaotic moments in 2018 — Rahm sees Valderrama as a useful test, even if the environments differ.

“At a U.S. Open you get wind, but not trees,” he said. “Still, one bad shot here and you’re in real trouble. This is the hardest course we play on LIV. Not many short courses play this tough. It’s like Harbour Town or Colonial, but harder.”

Rahm teed off his prep rounds before beginning his latest assault on a course where he has twice finished runner‑up — last year and in 2019, back when it was still part of the European Tour.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.