Jon Rahm shuts down persistent reporter before LIV Golf event: "No, no..."

Jon Rahm was adamant the format in the LIV Golf League is playing no part in his performances on the course this season. 

Rahm, 29, joined the breakaway tour last December for a reported £450m ($566.4m) fee and it was widely assumed he would run away with the individual title. 

But he is yet to capture a victory on the breakaway tour and, before the 10th event of the campaign at Valderrama in his homeland, poured cold water on the suggestion the format is not a hindrance. 

Before he joined LIV, Rahm labelled the rival league's 54-hole events as 'not proper' golf tournaments. 

Five months after he put pen to paper on a five-year deal with LIV, Rahm implored the powers that be at the circuit to consider switching to 72 holes. 

The comments were all the more remarkable considering he made them on the eve of the 2024 Masters before he attempted to defend the green jacket. 

Rahm was torn to shreds by Golf Channel's Eamon Lynch ahead of The Open and labelled a 'competitive irrelevance'. 

But Rahm rates his season to date as a six or seven out of 10. 

"There's been weeks where I feel like I scored a lot better than I felt," he told reporters when asked to rate his season.  

"And there's been a couple weeks where it could have been better. 

"[I] haven't won yet so that would deduct quite a bit from it.

"I would say maybe six to a seven out of 10 if I had to say. But the year is not over. 

"[There is] still a lot to play for. 

"It would not be unheard of to see a player finish strong and change that to maybe a nine out of 10. 

"So far just because I haven't won, I can't give it more than a seven."

Is the format less competitive than before?

"No," Rahm said. 

The same reply followed when the reporter asked the same question. 

So what is missing?

"It's not easy to win golf tournaments," he said. "I've been close. I just haven't gotten it done."

"I can understand why he was picked"

Rahm also offered his take on Keegan Bradley's Ryder Cup captaincy appointment. 

Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau also weighed in. 

Mickelson said he was surprised at the decision but reckons he will make a formidable skipper. 

Rahm said: "I heard so many people say it was going to be Tiger, Tiger at Bethpage. 

"I'm like, that makes sense, right? 

"He's won the U.S. Open at Bethpage, and it is Tiger Woods. So I felt like that made a lot of sense."

He added: "But I understand Keegan, as well, right. 

"His Ryder Cup showings, he was a very enthusiastic player. He made his mark. 

"Him and Phil had a great partnership, and there's some great highlights from him at Medinah.

"So he's a man from the northeast. I know Boston and New York, usually not friends, but I think for that week, they will just adopt him for the week. 

"Yeah, I can see it. I can understand why he was picked."

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