By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Photos Credit: LIV Golf.
By any measure, this was a week that tested LIV Golf’s sense of direction and durability. It concluded, however, with a performance of authority from Jon Rahm, who closed with a composed 64 to secure a six shot victory at Club de Golf Chapultepec, even as questions about the circuit’s future lingered in the thin Mexico City air.
Rahm’s march to 21 under par felt almost detached from the noise that surrounded the league. Reports had surfaced that the Saudi Public Investment Fund could reassess its financial commitment beyond 2026, prompting uncertainty among observers and within the sport’s wider ecosystem. LIV officials moved to steady the narrative, insisting the current season would proceed without interruption.
“The reality is you are funded through the season,” chief executive Scott O’Neil said earlier in the week. “Then you work like crazy to build a business that keeps going.”
There was also a note of continuity amid the unease. LIV confirmed it would return to Mexico City next year, reinforcing its intent to maintain a presence in one of its most vibrant markets. The announcement, delivered before the final round, offered a counterpoint to speculation that had cast a shadow over the event.
Through it all, Rahm remained largely unmoved. His golf spoke with clarity. An extraordinary drive at the short par four third set the tone on Sunday, leaving him a tap in eagle and immediate control of proceedings. “Obviously a massive bonus to hit a drive to tap in in any conditions,” Rahm said. “That freed me up to stay aggressive early on.”
The Spaniard’s victory marked his second of the season and completed a swift recovery from a disappointing Masters campaign. “If you had told me last week I would win by six, I would not have believed it,” he admitted. “I struggled badly there. This is a hell of an effort.”
He also pointed to a technical adjustment that emerged from a tense exchange with his caddie at Augusta. “We nearly had an argument on the putting green,” Rahm said. “Once it clicked, everything started to feel better. It has carried through to this week.”
Behind him, David Puig secured second place at 15 under, with Josele Ballester completing an all Spanish top three. Yet the leaderboard told only part of the story.
The week’s turbulence extended to the field itself. Bryson DeChambeau withdrew prior to the final round, citing a wrist concern that had developed during Saturday’s play. “I experienced some discomfort in my wrist during yesterday’s round,” DeChambeau said. “Not how I wanted this week to go. I will get it evaluated and hope to be ready for the next event.” His absence removed a notable presence from the closing day, though he had not been in contention.
In the end, Rahm’s procession provided a sense of sporting order. Still, the broader questions remain unresolved. LIV Golf leaves Mexico City with a champion in form, a schedule that continues, and a future that is, at best, still being shaped behind closed doors.