Jon Rahm’s blunt response over LIV Golf vs PGA debate shows star’s frustration

Jon Rahm has dismissed claims his slump in form is due to a less competitive environment in LIV Golf. The Spaniard was a force to be reckoned with on the PGA Tour, spending a year as world No.1 and winning the 2021 US Open and 2023 Masters.

Since defecting to the Saudi-back competitor in December, however, Rahm has struggled to replicate that - leading to him being labelled a "competitive irrelevance" recently. He's yet to win any of their events.

And his performances in the majors have been a shadow of his former self. A T45 finish at Augusta was followed by missing the cut at the PGA Championship, and a foot infection saw him forego the US Open.

Facing the media before LIV Golf Andalucia in his home country, Rahm cut a frustrated figure. He'd just graded his season so far as a six or seven out of 10 when he was asked: "Is it something in the format that is less competitive than before?"

Via the Mirror, Rahm simply shot back: "No." Undeterred, the journalist re-questioned: "So that's not the thing missing?" Again, Rahm stood firm and responed: "No."

The persistent reporter probed further: "What's missing?" To which Rahm said: "It's not easy to win golf tournaments. I've been close. I just haven't got it done."

The awkward exchange sparked further debate about LIV or the PGA having fiercer competition. One argued: "It should be easy to win in LIV tournaments, Jon. Very few players there that would be competitive on the PGA."

Another told him: "The answer is yes, LIV is less competitive by a mile." A third commented: "Haha you can not sit there and tell me that LIV is just as competitive. You LIVer's man."

A fourth added: "Just because he doesn't 'feel' like it's less competitive doesn't make it less true. The results speak for themselves."

On the flip side of the argument, one simply said: "Better golfers at LIV." A second claimed: "If anything @livgolf_league is harder to win... only three rounds... no more slacker Thursdays... come ready to play or hit the bricks!"

A third pointed out: "His team (Legion 13) has finished first, he finishes in the top five or 10 of nearly every LIV event, dealt with a foot injury, and the season isn't over. His game is not in decline. Clue to the clueless, no one wins all the time. Golf has its cycles."

And a fourth suggested: "Only a win at LIV Andalucia, The Open or the Olympics can save Rahm's season. He has found out the standard on LIV higher than expected."