Jon Rahm kept his focus squarely on golf despite growing uncertainty about LIV Golf’s future, carding a 4-under 67 to take a one-shot lead after the second round of LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec.
The Spaniard, captain of Legion XIII, moved to 10-under for the tournament after combining his opening 6-under 65 with Friday’s 67, building on a strong start that saw him benefit from an early struggle by first-round leader Victor Perez.
“I think the first day I struggled a little bit to adapt to the altitude, especially on holes seven and eight where I had some issues, but today I played better. It takes time to adapt, but I managed it well. I demand greater consistency and I hope to have it in the days ahead,” Rahm said after his round.
Matthew Wolff and Tom McKibbin both carded 65s to sit at 9-under, joined by Harold Varner III on 66, while Luis Masaveu finished fifth at 8-under after a 65.
Perez, who led the opening round with a 62, fell to sixth after a 73 on Friday.
In the team competition, Legion XIII continued its dominant performance, sitting at 25-under after 36 holes – the largest lead after any round in LIV Golf history – opening a 19-shot advantage over Fireballs GC.
“Anytime you have to count and do some math to realize how many ahead you are, it’s an amazing thing,” Rahm said of the team’s lead. “… I’m hoping we all keep playing to the same level, and come Sunday, the last few holes is not even a contest, and we have a 20-something, 30-something-shot lead. That would be amazing.”
Despite widespread speculation about the tour’s financial backing – including reports that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund funding is only guaranteed through the end of the 2026 season – Rahm said he had not allowed the uncertainty to affect his focus.
“Until the people in charge told me whether the rumors were true or not, it didn’t build sense to think about it or waste time thinking about it,” he said. “As everything came out into the open so suddenly and so quickly, I didn’t really have time to worry too much. Normally, before rumors come out, we hear something and there’s always someone in the league who knows something. It happened so fast that I really didn’t worry about it.”
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil sought to reassure players and staff, stating in a memo that the 2026 season would proceed “without interruption and at full throttle,” while acknowledging in a TNT Sports interview that the league must operate “like crazy as a business to create a business and a business plan to keep us going.”
The interview was later removed from TNT Sports’ social media accounts and replaced with a different version.
Rahm’s performance in Mexico City marks a rebound from a disappointing showing at the Masters, where he missed the cut, and reaffirms his status as one of the game’s premier players despite the off-course distractions surrounding LIV Golf’s long-term viability.
The tournament continues through Sunday, with Legion XIII aiming to convert its historic lead into a commanding victory as players prepare for the final 36 holes at Club de Golf Chapultepec, situated nearly 2,400 meters above sea level.
For ongoing coverage of LIV Golf Mexico City and updates on Rahm’s pursuit of the title, stay tuned to verified tournament sources and official league communications.
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