Rahm Defends LIV Golf Title, But Falls in Playoff to Muñoz

Jon Rahm Secures LIV Golf Points Title Despite Playoff Defeat

In an emotional weekend at the Indianapolis event, Jon Rahm successfully defended his season points title in LIV Golf, despite not achieving any individual victories during the year. Rahm closed his participation with an impressive round of 60 strokes, eleven under par, but ultimately fell to Sebastián Muñoz in an exciting playoff. Muñoz, for his part, starred in an outstanding performance, winning two days after becoming the first player to achieve a round of 59 strokes with a double bogey. The Colombian golfer, with Rahm practicing on the practice course, achieved birdies on the last two holes of the regular round, signing a card of 65 strokes to tie Rahm at 22 under par at The Club at Chatham Hills. The playoff defeat marked the second consecutive time Rahm fell in the first extra round, after losing the previous week in Chicago to Dean Burmester in a three-way tiebreaker that also included Josele Ballester. On this occasion, Muñoz prevailed with a six-foot birdie on the 18th hole, a par 4, to take the victory.

It’s a great moment, but it doesn’t feel good to end the year losing two playoffs. I’m sure that with time I will overcome that and really appreciate what I have done this year. Being able to win the season without winning a tournament, I know I will be proud of that.

Jon Rahm

Rahm managed to secure the season’s points title ahead of Joaquin Niemann, who had achieved five victories in the season. Niemann finished with a round of 66 strokes, tying for fourth place with 17 under par, his first time in the top 10 of the year without winning.

It’s a little hard to take in. But at the end of the day, I think it is what it is. I feel like this will put something inside me to work harder and try to be in this situation again next year and do it differently.

Joaquín Niemann

In the team event, Muñoz and Niemann led Torque GC to the championship with an impressive total of 64 under par, setting a new record for LIV Golf, surpassing the previous mark of 53 under par.

I was a bit lucky that he didn’t hit so close to me, and I finished it quickly. It’s the first time I’ve beaten him, so I’m very proud of that and happy to be able to go home with the trophy.

Sebastián Muñoz

Ian Poulter, for his part, managed to avoid relegation from the tour thanks to birdies on four of his last five holes, finishing with a round of 67 strokes and tying for 17th place. His Majesticks teammate, Henrik Stenson, was not so lucky and was relegated after missing a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole, which would have secured his place on the tour and, in turn, would have left Poulter out.