Jon Rahm Shades His Masters Win with Glaring Take on Team Golf

Newsweek

01-05-2025

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In professional golf, nothing is more cherished than a major title, especially when it comes to the Masters Tournament. When a major winner claims that he or she values any other component of their career more than those victories, disbelief is the least they can expect.
Jon Rahm just did that.
Speaking at the site of the LIV Golf Korea event, the winner of the 2021 US Open and 2023 Masters Tournament revealed the source of his favorite golf memories. To the surprise of many, it's nowhere near to Augusta National or Torrey Pines:
"Something I always enjoyed, my whole life I've been part of a team until I turned professional," Rahm said.
"All of my fondest memories in golf, all the ones I remembered as the most fun was when we accomplished something as a team. It was a lot more fun to celebrate together."
Jon Rahm of Spain poses with the Masters trophy during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia.
Jon Rahm of Spain poses with the Masters trophy during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia.The comments may surprise you when you consider that LIV Golf, where Rahm has been playing since 2024, has among its main particularities the existence of 13 teams competing alongside the individual tournament. The Spaniard is the captain of Legion XIII, one of the current most successful teams in the league, if not the most successful.
"What about his majors?" you might think. Well, two years ago, during his winner's press conference at Augusta National, Rahm had the opportunity to talk about his two major titles, as he became the first European to win both the Masters and the US Open.
"I find it hard to believe, the first one," he said. "You know, there's -- if there's anything better than accomplishing something like this, is making history."
Nevertheless, Rahm elaborated on his feelings about team golf, pointing out the lack of it at the professional stage:
"The only team event we ever had as pros being Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, and it used to be the World Cup," he said. "Now the Olympics isn't even a team sport. It might be coming up in the future. We didn't have a lot of experience."
To be fair, Rahm did not completely dismiss individual wins during his recent press conference in Korea:
"Even though individual wins are great and you have your own individual team, it's not the same as sharing the stage with someone and celebrating those wins," he said.
💬 "All of my fondest memories in golf, all the ones I remembered as the most fun was when we accomplished something as a team - @JonRahmOfficial#LIVGolfKorea @LegionXIIIgc pic.twitter.com/xShjTMIkSm — LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) April 30, 2025
But, it does look like he forgot to mention the only team event on the PGA Tour, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. It's a tournament the Spaniard has played three times and even won in 2019, teaming up with Ryan Palmer.
It's a forgivable omission considering the Spaniard has won 21 other non-team professional events in his career.
Rahm is not the first LIV player to express similar views recently. Early last March, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson said that what he's doing with LIV Golf is "the greatest thing he's ever done in golf."
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