{"id":621092,"date":"2026-04-21T09:32:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T09:32:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/621092\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T09:32:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T09:32:20","slug":"turbulent-week-for-liv-golf-finally-ends-with-one-of-its-biggest-stars-holding-the-hardware-australian-golf-digest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/621092\/","title":{"rendered":"Turbulent week for LIV Golf finally ends with one of its biggest stars holding the hardware \u2013 Australian Golf Digest"},"content":{"rendered":"

[Photos: Hector Vivas]<\/p>\n

The most turbulent week in LIV Golf\u2019s short history ended with far less drama when Jon Rahm won the league\u2019s Mexico City event in a canter.<\/p>\n

RELATED: Bryson DeChambeau withdraws from final round of LIV Golf Mexico<\/a><\/p>\n

Rahm\u2019s six-shot victory at Chapultepec Golf Club ended a week in which reports surfaced that LIV\u2019s financiers, Saudi Arabia\u2019s Public Investment Fund, were on the verge of withdrawing financial backing after the 2026 season.<\/p>\n

Those reports came after the Public Investment Fund released a new investment strategy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 2026-30 strategy marks a natural evolution as PIF moves from a period of rapid growth and acceleration to a new phase of sustained value creation, with a strengthened focus on maximising impact, raising the efficiency of investments, applying the highest standards of governance, transparency and institutional excellence,\u201d the PIF said in a release.<\/p>\n

There was speculation about the future of the remaining eight events of LIV\u2019s season before league sources told Golf Digest on Wednesday that funding and operations would continue for 2026.<\/p>\n

Earlier in the week, during an interview with British broadcaster TNT, LIV Golf chief executive Scott O\u2019Neil was asked about future funding. One of his answers included the line, \u201cThe reality is you\u2019re funded through the season then you work like crazy to create a business and a business plan to keep us going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before the final round, LIV posted to social media that it would return to Mexico City, with tickets to go on sale soon.<\/p>\n

The overall future of the league did not seem to affect competitive play as Rahm strode easily to his second win of the season, which comes in addition to three runner-up finishes. Rahm, a former Masters and US Open champion, carded a bogey-free final round seven-under 64 to finish at 21-under. Rahm\u2019s fellow Spaniard David Puig was 15-under, while their countryman Josele Ballester was third at 14-under.<\/p>\n

Rahm\u2019s 64 was set up by an astonishing 390-yard drive on the short par-4 third that nestled to tap-in distance for eagle. He never looked back.<\/p>\n

390 YARDS TO 3 FEET \ud83d\ude31@JonRahmOfficial<\/a> drives the green 390-yards away and sinks the eagle putt to lead by 4 \ud83e\udd85#LIVGolfMexicoCity<\/a> | @LegionXIIIgc<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/b8EVFtdqky<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, a massive bonus to hit a drive to tap-in in any conditions anywhere ever,\u201d Rahm said. \u201cThat was huge, kind of freed me up a little bit to play the next few holes still aggressive because Puig was five or six under through six, seven holes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rahm said he was in disbelief, given he opened last week\u2019s Masters with a 78, battled just to make the cut at Augusta National.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you would have told me last week on Thursday afternoon that I\u2019d be winning by a six-shot margin this week, I would not have believed you because of how bad I played,\u201d Rahm said. \u201cHell of an effort, just what a Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n

The former world No.1 said he was battling a swing issue that clicked before the final round at the Masters.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, my caddie and I nearly got into a heated argument on Saturday on the putting green at Augusta when he was trying to explain something, and I wasn\u2019t fully understanding,\u201d Rahm said. \u201cOnce it clicked what he was trying to say, what I needed to work on that range session Saturday afternoon, it was so much better. Sunday at Augusta I played much better golf, it\u2019s only gotten a little bit easier since then.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not always the easiest to have a swing thought while playing, but this one obviously seemed to work out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"2272116254\"\/<\/p>\n

Given LIV Golf now receives Official World Golf Ranking points, Rahm is projected to move back towards the top 20.<\/p>\n

Runner-up Puig, who also won the DP World Tour\u2019s Australian PGA Championship in December, is within reach of a US Open exemption. The USGA will award spots to top points earners from LIV standings across 2025 and early 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith that second place, hopefully I\u2019m a little closer to the top 60 on the OWGR as well, in case that exemption doesn\u2019t come through,\u201d Puig said. \u201cBut I think about it all the time. Playing majors is just amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the final round delivered a comfortable win for Rahm, there was some late drama with Bryson DeChambeau withdrawing prior to the final round due to a wrist injury.<\/p>\n

\u201cI experienced some discomfort in my wrist during yesterday\u2019s round,\u201d DeChambeau said via social media. \u201cNot how I wanted this week to go.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to take a few days to get evaluated and hope to be ready for LIV Golf Virginia.\u201d<\/p>\n