The breakaway league has reached Chicago for the 2024 LIV Golf Individual Championship! It is one of the most important tournaments of the season since this is when the Player of the Year is declared. Last year, Talor Gooch became the winner. This year, apart from the iconic trophy, there is one thing that the fans are awaiting, like nothing else. The face-off between Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann.

On the LIV Golf Individual standings, Rahm is in the lead with 195.17 points, and the latter is following him with 192.20 points. Now winning the championship is important for both the players, and it is only them who can put up a fight against each other.

Jon Rahm intimidates Joaquin Niemann

Joaquin Niemann has had an extraordinary season this year. He began 2024 with a win in the Mayakoba and later on went about winning the Jeddah as well. Although he has had more wins than Rahm, the Spaniard has not dropped down to the top-10 list in any of the events. Niemann, however, had his name below top-30 in two events. He is amused by the consistency Rahm has, and that’s what scares him.

Ahead of the tournament in Bolingbrook in Chicago, at the Monday practice round presser, the Torque GC captain shared his concerns, while expressing how badly he wants to win. He goes on stating how his only aim since the inception of the new season has been to win the title at Chicago. While he considers all the LIV Golfers to be great rivals, Rahm stands out the most.

“All of the players are great rivals, but to be playing against Jon Rahm in the final event is a big honor for me. He’s somebody who’s proves how good he is and how consistent he is,” said Niemann. He even added how special it was to be able to tee up against him at the Individual Championship. “I’m practicing hard to be ready. I’m looking forward to it and it’ll be a lot of fun,” he said.

Well, it is not just Niemann who is intimidated by his rival for the much-awaited face-off in Chicago. Looks like Jon Rahm is as scared of letting the trophy slip away.

Rahm says Niemann has a great chance of winning

Greenbrier was the last regular event hosted by the 2024 LIV Golf season. In August, before entering the field, Joaquin Niemann was in the lead in the standings, while Jon Rahm followed him in the second position. Spaniard finished the first round tying for the fourth position, and Niemann was on the 20th rank. When asked if the 25-year-old possessed a threat for the Legion XII Captain, Rahm illustrated Niemann’s amazing run this season.

“He’s played great. He’s got two wins, but for the rest of the season, he’s got a great chance,” he said. Well, neither of them won the Greenbrier, but there was a huge difference in the score. The Spaniard bagged the second position with a 19-under, while Niemann tied for the 15th position, eight strokes behind him. This difference was what led Jon Rahm to defeat the 25-year-old at the Individual standings and reach the top! Who do you think will the ultimate Player of the Year be? Let us know in the comments section below!