Jon Rahm entered the final round of LIV Golf’s season-opening event in Mayakoba with a three-shot lead, but the former Masters champion refused to entertain thoughts of victory, insisting his focus remained squarely on executing each shot rather than protecting his advantage.
Speaking after a third-round 68 at El Camaleón Golf Club left him at 13-under par, Rahm acknowledged the unusual position of leading a LIV Golf individual event for the first time since joining the breakaway circuit in late 2022. Yet he deflected praise, noting the leaderboard’s volatility and the strength of the field still lurking behind him.
“I’ve been in this spot before in other tours, and I know how quickly things can change,” Rahm said. “One bad stretch, a couple of three-putts, and suddenly you’re chasing instead of leading. My job today wasn’t to think about the trophy — it was to hit good golf shots and trust my process.”
The Spaniard’s caution is grounded in recent history. At LIV Golf’s Jeddah event in February, Rahm held a two-shot lead entering the final round before a closing 71 dropped him into a tie for fourth. Similar scenarios unfolded at Adelaide and Singapore, where strong positions unraveled under pressure.
His current edge comes after a steady week defined by precision iron play and minimal mistakes. Rahm ranked second in the field for greens in regulation (75%) and led all players in putting average (1.68) through three rounds, according to LIV Golf’s official statistics.
Chasing him are a trio of dangerous competitors: Cameron Smith, the 2022 Open Champion sitting at 10-under; Brooks Koepka, seeking his first LIV Golf individual title at 9-under; and Tyrrell Hatton, whose closing 65 left him three shots back at 10-under.
The leaderboard’s compression — just four shots separate second through sixth place — means a single bogey-free round could reshuffle the entire contender list. Rahm acknowledged the mathematical reality but insisted it changed nothing in his approach.
“Whether I’m up three or down three, I still have to play the same way,” he said. “If I start trying to play not to lose, that’s when mistakes happen. I’ve learned that the hard way.”
His remarks echo a broader philosophy Rahm has carried since his PGA Tour days, where he won 11 times, including the 2023 Masters. Known for his fiery competitiveness, Rahm has increasingly emphasized mental discipline over the past year, particularly after joining LIV Golf and navigating the scrutiny that accompanied his move.
The Mayakoba event marks the first of 14 individual LIV Golf events in the 2024 season, with points accumulated toward the season-long individual championship and a $18 million bonus pool. Rahm’s current lead gives him a strong early foothold, but he remains wary of reading too much into one tournament.
“One good week doesn’t craft a season,” Rahm said. “Consistency is what matters here. You can win one event and still finish outside the top ten in the standings if you miss cuts or have bad weeks elsewhere.”
LIV Golf’s individual points system awards the winner 40 points, with declining values down to 1 point for 24th place. Rahm’s projected finish, should he hold on, would net him approximately 32 points — a valuable start but far from decisive in a season where over 500 points are available.
The Mexican venue, El Camaleón, presented unique challenges with its jungle-fringed fairways and shifting winds off the Caribbean Sea. Players noted the difficulty of judging distances on elevated greens and the prevalence of grain affecting putts — factors Rahm cited as contributing to his deliberate pace and heightened focus.
His caddie, Adam Hayes, confirmed the duo spent extra time studying green contours during practice rounds, particularly on the back nine where several holes feature severe slopes and hidden breaks. “We knew if we could minimize three-putts, we’d give ourselves a chance,” Hayes said. “Jon’s been exceptional with the flat stick this week.”
Should Rahm convert his lead into victory, it would mark his first individual LIV Golf win and his first worldwide triumph since the 2023 Masters. It would also silence critics who questioned his ability to adapt to the league’s shotgun-start format and 54-hole structure, which lacks the traditional cut.
For now, though, the Spaniard remains unfazed by the noise. As he walked off the 18th green Saturday, he declined to speculate about Sunday’s outcome, instead focusing on the immediate task: a proper warm-up and early bedtime.
“I’ll treat tomorrow like any other round,” Rahm said. “Show up, stick to my routine, and let the results seize care of themselves.”
The final round begins at 7:30 a.m. Local time in Quintana Roo (13:30 UTC), with live coverage available on LIV Golf’s official platforms. Fans can follow real-time scoring and shot-tracking via the LIV Golf app or website.
As always in golf, the true test comes not in holding a lead, but in what a player does when the pressure intensifies. Rahm, for his part, appears ready to meet it — one shot at a time.
Next up: Rahm will glance to carry this form into LIV Golf’s second event of the season at Las Vegas in early March, where he’ll aim to build on what he’s learned in Mexico.
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