Jon Rahm admits struggles ahead of LIV Golf Korea as PGA Championship looms
Rahm eyes redemption at LIV Golf Korea after winless start to 2025 season.
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| Jon Rahm of Legion XIII lines up a putt on the sixth green during the third day of LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec on April 27, 2025, in Mexico City, Mexico. Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images |
By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini
Jon Rahm is heading into LIV Golf Korea with a heavy sense of self-awareness and a desire to correct course. The two-time major winner and former world number one openly acknowledged that he has made costly mistakes this season, admitting that he has not done himself “any favours” during a winless run that has stretched across the 2025 campaign so far. With the US PGA Championship fast approaching, Jon Rahm LIV Golf Korea headlines have taken on added significance as the Spaniard looks to build momentum.
Speaking ahead of the inaugural LIV Golf event in South Korea, Rahm was candid about his performance levels and the fine margins that have kept him out of the winner’s circle. “I’m just not doing everything I need to do right,” he said. “Sometimes you also need a little bit of luck in your favour… I just haven’t done myself any favours on the golf course, I would say it like that.”
A season of near-misses and mounting pressure
For a player of Rahm’s pedigree, 2025 has been anything but satisfying. Although he finished second at the season-opener in Riyadh and has placed inside the top 10 in all six LIV events this year, he has yet to hoist a trophy. The Jon Rahm LIV Golf Korea storyline is now centered around whether he can snap that streak in Incheon.
“I like having top 10s and being a good player week-in and week-out,” Rahm said. “But winning obviously is what matters more. I would gladly give up some of those top 10s for more wins.” That mindset reflects a hunger that remains undiminished, even as doubts begin to creep in about his current form.
Augusta disappointment lingers
Rahm’s frustration was most evident at the Masters in April, where his title defense fell flat. A poor opening round of 75 (+3) left him chasing the pack, and although he recovered somewhat, he never truly threatened. Ultimately, he finished eight shots behind winner Rory McIlroy, tied for 14th place. For a player who dominated Augusta just two years ago, it was a sobering experience.
The Spaniard knows his errors are subtle yet significant. “Small mistakes” have added up over time, chipping away at his confidence and costing him valuable strokes. With majors on the horizon and his peers finding form, Rahm is under pressure to rediscover the level of sharpness that made him one of the most feared competitors in golf.
A new test in South Korea
The LIV Golf Korea event at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon presents a fresh opportunity. It also introduces Rahm to a unique challenge — competing in a country where LIV Golf is making its debut. South Korean fans will be eager to see global stars up close, and Rahm will want to make a strong impression in front of an unfamiliar crowd.
His opening round pairing with Joaquin Niemann — the red-hot Chilean who just won in Mexico — adds another layer of intrigue. Niemann has been the standout performer of the season so far, with three wins (Singapore, Adelaide, and now Mexico) under his belt. His recent triumph in Mexico also secured his place in the US Open at Oakmont this June.
Competition heats up ahead of second major
While Rahm searches for his first victory of the year, Niemann’s rise underscores how competitive the LIV circuit has become. “It’s been an exciting last six events here at LIV,” said Niemann. “The way I’ve been playing, the way I’ve been feeling on the course… there’s been a lot of trust and faith in the work I’ve been putting in.”
Bryson DeChambeau, another key contender in Incheon, comes into the event with momentum of his own. He played in the final group alongside McIlroy at Augusta, demonstrating that he too is edging closer to a big breakthrough in 2025.
For Rahm, the presence of in-form players like Niemann and DeChambeau only increases the urgency to step up. With the US PGA Championship just two weeks away, the Spaniard knows that LIV Golf Korea might be his last real chance to find winning form before the next major.
The stakes for Rahm in Incheon
While the field in LIV Golf tournaments is smaller than on the PGA Tour — typically limited to 54 players — the quality is undeniably high. And for Rahm, competing in these condensed fields has not necessarily translated to easier wins. In fact, his consistent top 10s suggest strong form, but not enough to separate from the pack when it matters most.
“Every once in a while, there’s been enough mistakes where I’m just not quite close enough going into the back nine on Sunday,” Rahm admitted. Those Sundays, in his view, are where champions are made — and where his chances have fizzled.
In that light, Jon Rahm LIV Golf Korea is more than just another tournament. It is an opportunity for a proven champion to recalibrate, to silence doubters, and to reignite a season that has yet to reach its potential.
What needs to change
The path back to victory for Rahm is not a mystery. Sharpening his approach shots, eliminating unforced errors, and maintaining composure on the greens are all part of the equation. But perhaps just as important is the mental side — the confidence to take control when in contention.
He remains optimistic. “I keep playing well, I keep putting myself close enough,” he said. “It’s about cleaning up the little things.”
Fans will be watching closely to see if that cleanup starts in South Korea. The LIV Golf Korea event may not carry the prestige of a major, but its timing and location make it a vital stop in Rahm’s 2025 journey.
Looking ahead to the PGA Championship
Should Rahm find form in Incheon, it could propel him into the PGA Championship with renewed belief. The stakes at Valhalla — where the year’s second major will be held — are immense, and arriving in Kentucky on the back of a win would change the narrative around his season entirely.
Until then, LIV Golf Korea offers both a test and an opportunity. For Jon Rahm, it’s a chance to prove that the fire still burns — and that the setbacks of early 2025 are merely the start of a larger comeback story.
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