Well, it looks like Jon Rahm has decided to turn up the heat in Staffordshire for UK LIV golf lovers!
The Spanish dynamo stormed through the first round of LIV Golf UK, carding an impeccable eight-under 63. That’s eight birdies, zero bogeys, and one heck of a start.
With this masterful performance, Rahm has opened up a two-shot lead, leaving the rest of the field scrambling to keep up.
Rahm, the former world No. 1 and two-time major champion, has been on a bit of a dry spell since switching from the PGA Tour to the LIV Golf League at the beginning of 2024.
He’s been tantalisingly close, finishing tied for seventh at last week’s Open Championship at Royal Troon, where he wrapped up his campaign with a solid three-under 68 in the final round. But victory has been elusive.
That might be about to change. Rahm’s round in Staffordshire was a clinic in precision and power.
Rahm played in the same group with his teammate and former Ryder Cup partner Tyrrell Hatton, along with another Legion XIII player, Caleb Surratt, as the LIV Golf captains were grouped with their top two teammates for the first round.
“It was the first time I played with any teammates in LIV Golf,” said Rahm, who had eight birdies, no blemishes on the card, and a whole lot of confidence.to pull away from the pack. “I wasn’t sure how that was going to go. I was a little curious.”
Rahm is now two strokes clear of American Andy Ogletree and Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, both of whom put in commendable performances to keep the pressure on.
Let’s not forget the ever-dangerous Cameron Smith and England’s own Tyrrell Hatton, who are lurking just a shot further back at five under.
Hatton’s round was a mixed bag of seven birdies and a double bogey, proving once again that golf is as much about managing chaos as it is about skill.
Said Hatton: “We’ve shared some pretty cool stages over the last few years, and we generally play well when we play together.
So, it was nice for both of us to have a good round of golf and have some momentum going into the weekend.”
Ancer, the winner via playoff earlier this year in Hong Kong, finished with a flourish.
The Fireballs star birdied four of his last five holes during a brilliant putting round in which he led the field.
Ogletree’s best finish during his first full LIV Golf season is a tie for third in Adelaide.
He’s battled a wrist injury that may require offseason surgery and forced him to make some swing adjustments to alleviate the pain.
“I’ve had a lot of days where I’ve played 13 and 14 really good holes and then kind of held myself back by a bad stretch,” said the HyFlyers member. “Today, I was in it all day and played some solid golf.”
Hatton and Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith are tied for fourth, while a group of seven players – including Smash GC Captain Brooks Koepka and local resident Sam Horsfield of Majesticks GC – are four strokes off the lead in a tie for sixth.
On a course that was unfamiliar to most players and expected to give up low scores grudgingly, 35 of the 54 players in the field broke par, with a stroke average of more than one shot under par.
As we head into the next rounds, all eyes will be on Rahm. Can he keep up this blistering pace and finally snag his first victory on the LIV Golf circuit?
The stage is set, the spotlight is on, and if Rahm’s first round is anything to go by, we’re in for a thrilling showdown in Rocester.
