Jon Rahm has directly asked the golf world to stop using his move to the breakaway tour as an excuse for his recent struggles in major championships. On Tuesday, before the DP World Tour’s season finale in Dubai, the Spanish star, who turned 32 on Monday, addressed reporters. He pushed back against the narrative that his performance dropped because of the league switch. Rahm noted that he has faced accusations since quitting the PGA Tour in December 2023. His results in the big four tournaments since that decision have been mixed, with only one top-five finish during his stint with LIV.
Rahm provided specific data regarding his major record to support his argument. According to GolfMagic, the Spaniard finished T45 at the 2024 Masters, T8 at the 2025 Masters, and T38 at the 2026 Masters. His PGA Championship results show a missed cut in 2024, T14 in 2025, and T2 in 2026. At the U.S. Open, he was injured in 2024, finished T7 in 2025, and missed the cut in 2026. The Open Championship results include T7 in 2024, T11 in 2025, and T46 in 2026. These numbers show a clear struggle to find consistency on the biggest stages. Yet last Sunday, Rahm secured a victory at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship. Following his departure from LIV Golf and a tough stretch, he informed reporters that he had “turned a page”.
Own Issues, Not the Tour
When asked if he felt he was entering a golden era, Rahm was blunt about the cause of his past failures. “We’ve got to stop blaming LIV for me playing poorly at the majors,” Rahm said to the media in Dubai. He explained that the difficulty was internal rather than external. “I know what you are all trying to insinuate,” he added; “It’s not because of LIV. It’s my own [issues].” The golfer pointed to specific technical flaws that held him back. “Because I did have a chance to win the PGA [Championship] the last two years we played it, right? It’s my own doing and my own, let’s say, golf swing problems,” he stated. Rahm noted that managing a golf swing is easier on courses that are less demanding. “That’s what I was alluding, that when you are not playing a big event, it’s a lot easier to manage certain things,” he explained. He further noted that since the courses are typically easier, you can handle them accordingly. His focus now is on fixing those swing problems to improve consistency.
Rahm emphasized that his recent form shows he is capable of winning again. “I’ve played really good golf this year,” he said, noting that his struggles were unfortunate timing rather than a lack of skill. The golfer hopes that the work he has done recently will help him perform better on the world’s toughest stages. He believes the issues are solvable and that the blame game needs to end. Golf Monthly reported on the broader context of players facing pressure, though the specific comments on his swing came directly from Rahm’s interview.
Looking Ahead to Consistency
The path forward for Rahm involves maintaining the momentum from his Abu Dhabi victory. He aims to prove that his major struggles were a temporary phase linked to specific swing mechanics rather than a long-term decline. Fans and analysts will watch closely to see if he can translate his recent form into top finishes at the 2027 majors. The golfer’s statement is a clear message to the media and fans alike. He wants the focus to remain on his game, not his affiliation. As he continues to compete, the results will speak for themselves. The next test for Rahm will be his performance in the upcoming events on the DP World Tour schedule.
