PGA Tour Winner Claims Jon Rahm Is ‘Bothered’ by Irrelevance to Scottie Scheffler Despite Shrugging Off Ranking Slide

“Unfortunately, OWGR has shown little willingness to productively work with us,” LIV Golf’s former CEO Greg Norman wrote to the players back in 2024 when they ended their chase for the official world golf ranking points. A lot changed between LIV Golf and the OWGR, with LIV Golf citing a lack of cooperation and progress. The league’s top players, including Joaquin Niemann, Bryson DeChambeau, and Dustin Johnson, have seen their world rankings plummet, with many feeling the current system devalues their skills.

LIV Golf’s bid to gain recognition was a bumpy ride, plagued by its unorthodox 54-hole format, a small field of just 54 players (with wildcards thrown in), and no cuts. But according to Peter Dawson, the OWGR chairman, these quirks didn’t exactly win over the establishment. Now, since joining LIV, Jon Rahm, the 2023 Masters winner, has also made his thoughts clear on the matter.

Speaking at the Masters press conference, Rahm shared his thoughts on his current ranking in the golf world. When asked where he stands in the Official World Golf Rankings, Rahm jokingly replied that he’s not far from dropping out of the top 100, but quickly added that he still considers himself a top-10 player in the world. “A couple weeks to go and I’ll be gone. I mean, I’m not going to say exactly a number, but I would still undoubtedly consider myself a top-10 player in the world.” But it’s hard to tell nowadays. He acknowledged that it’s hard to gauge his current standing, but he’s confident in his abilities.

Rahm emphasized the importance of consistency in his game, pointing out that he’s always prided himself on his top-10 statistics. Before joining LIV, he was finishing in the top 10 in around 50% of his starts worldwide, a challenging feat to maintain. While he’s happy with his consistency in LIV events, Rahm admitted that he’d trade some of those top-10 finishes for a few more wins, highlighting that his ultimate goal is to come out on top.

Former PGA Tour pro and host of the Smylie Show, Kaufman, shared his insights on Jon Rahm‘s recent comments. According to Kaufman, Rahm wasn’t as nonchalant about his ranking situation as he seemed to be. “You could tell he’s like, very bothered by not being relevant in the fact that people don’t talk to him in the same vein that we talk about Scottie Scheffler, that we talked about Rory,” said Kaufman. He also said that this perceived frustration might be why Rahm took to ‘make a statement’ this week. “It’s just, you know, we just don’t talk about Jon Rahm, and I think it bothers him, I really do, and I think he’s looking to make a statement this week.”

Well, this isn’t the first time Rahm has weighed in on the unfairness of the OWGR system, as earlier this year, he didn’t hold back at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic press conference as well.

Jon Rahm believes not giving LIV golf OWGR points is ‘wrong’

Jon Rahm has reportedly called the LIV OWGR not a “good system.” Despite never finishing outside the top 10 on the Saudi-backed circuit over the past 14 months, “I would still undoubtedly consider myself a top-10 player in the world,” he said. “But it’s hard to tell nowadays.”

The star expressed his frustration, stating, “I think at this point to not give LIV World Ranking points and the credibility it deserves, I think is wrong.” Rahm revealed that LIV Golf had informed him early on that they wouldn’t be pursuing OWGR accreditation as aggressively as they could have, but he still thinks the acknowledgment isn’t enough. Rahm’s comments contrast with those of his compatriot Eugenio Chacarra, who said LIV promised him OWGR points and major championship spots when he joined.

Chacarra expressed frustration that those promises weren’t fulfilled, saying, “When I joined LIV, they promised OWGR and majors. But it didn’t happen. I trusted them. I was the first young guy, then the others came after I made the decision.” Rahm, currently ranked 31st in the OWGR, believes that the system needs to find a way to accommodate LIV players, arguing, “Listen, I understand we’ve all made a decision and it’s not as easy as it sounds but to say that LIV players don’t deserve some spots in major championships, I think is wrong.” But, what do you think? Is it high time for some OWGR recognition in LIV? Let us know in the comment section below!