Jon Rahm has experienced plenty of change on – and off – the golf course in recent months, with the Spaniard pleased to begin the “next page” of his career with a victory.
Rahm returned from a seven-week absence to make his debut at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, where a two-shot win marked his 11th DP World Tour title and his first since April 2023.
The Rolex Series event was his first start since finishing rock-bottom at September’s BMW PGA Championship, where Rahm’s mind was focused primarily on the possibility of his impending fourth child arriving early.
Rahm’s wife Kelley welcomed their daughter Begona in mid-October and the Spaniard’s playing future has also since been made clearer, having made a separation agreement with LIV Golf ahead of them ‘winding down operations’.
The former world No 1 failed to win on the DP World Tour during his three seasons with LIV Golf, but victory over Ryder Cup teammates Tyrrell Hatton and Rory McIlroy is a record sixth Rolex Series victory.
“It [winning] means a lot,” Rahm said. “It’s been quite a while since I’ve played good in a DP World Tour event. From last [BMW PGA Championship] to first is a pretty good feeling.”
Jon Rahm claimed a debut victory in Abu Dhabi
He added: “To battle it out with Tyrrell [Hatton], who is the other man with five [Rolex Series wins], to break the tie and get it done – he’s a good friend of mine and I know how good a competitor he is. It’s a special week.”
Rahm’s attorney told a bankruptcy court last month that he would not be participating with any proposed ‘LIV 2.0’, having topped the individual standings in all three seasons on the circuit and won four of their events.
He has faced regular questions about his – and the league’s future – throughout the season, although can now turn his attention to featuring more frequently on the DP World Tour.
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Jon Rahm reveals the changes to LIV 2.0 that made him quit the tour, whilst also admitting that he’d take the same deal as Brooks Koepka to re-join the PGA Tour
“Whether you like to admit it or not, it [LIV Golf] was a lot of extra noise going on in general, and that was still not the most important part of my life,” he said.
“In the sense of the impending birth of our daughter was something that was weighing heavily on me at Wentworth, I’m not going to lie, I didn’t want to miss it. It was a little bit more difficult to perhaps play and think throughout the golf course [when] it felt a little bit cloudy in a sense.
“The calmness I felt this week has been enjoyable all week, honestly. I felt incredible calm, even when things didn’t go anyway. Not much seemed to bother me, and probably the main reason why I was able to perform the way I have.”
Rahm carded a final-round 67 to finish two shots clear of Hatton
On whether the demise of LIV Golf marked the end of one chapter of his career, Rahm said: “One could say that.
“After everything that’s gone on, and some poor play and some battles mentally with a lot of noise, to come back out after a bit of rest and having a new addition to the family, it’s quite special.”
Could Rahm still win the Race to Dubai?
Rahm said pre-tournament that he not talked with the PGA Tour about a potential return, while his win in Abu Dhabi keeps his hopes alive of winning the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai this season.
Rahm played alongside LIV Golf teammate Tyrrell Hatton on the final day
“I don’t know how else to say it – it’s on to the next page, right,” Rahm explained. “Luckily in golf, I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of opportunities and take advantage of them.
“Hopefully I can keep doing so.”
Rahm is one of nine players now with a mathematical chance of winning the Race to Dubai, although needs to win the DP World Tour Championship for a fourth time and require both Eugenio Chacarra and Rory McIlroy’s results to go in his favour.
“I didn’t think I would ever have a chance to win it [Race to Dubai],” Rahm added. “I’m very excited – it actually gives me a little extra incentive next week.
“Those are better odds than I expected so looking forward to it and hopefully I can get my fourth one [DP World Tour Championship].”
What’s next?
The DP World Tour season reaches its climax next week at the DP World Tour Championship, where only the top 50 available players in the Race to Dubai standings are eligible to compete.
Watch all four rounds of the DP World Tour Championship live on Sky Sports, with coverage of the opening round from 7am on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event. Get the latest Sky Sports deals or stream golf and more sport with no contract.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
