PGA Tour golfer confirms Jon Rahm comment was sarcasm

In-form PGA Tour golfer Michael Kim has clarified he was joking when he declared he was a better player than Jon Rahm. 

Kim has been trending nicely in recent weeks and hasn't finished outside the top 15 since sharing second place at TPC Scottsdale. 

The American, 31, was once again in the thick of it on Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

But he didn't quite do enough to close the cap between Russell Henley and Collin Morikawa down the stretch. 

Still, his solo fourth place finish meant that he has played his way into this week's coveted Players Championship. 

And he also secured a starting berth at the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush. 

Moreover, Kim has now leapfrogged Rahm in the OWGR and he took to X to brag. 

"I'm currently better than Jon Rahm," Kim posted on X, alongside a screen shot of the latest rankings that show the 2023 Masters champ a lowly 59th. 

"OFFICIAL world golf rankings."

Kim added: "Can't wait for the LIV bots. It's obviously tongue in cheek everyone."

His post attracted some brilliant comments. 

"Facts don't lie, Mike," one wrote. Another added: "That's always been the case!"

What is Jon Rahm's real world golf ranking?

Rahm was ranked third in the OWGR when he joined the breakaway tour in December 2023 and has now slipped to 59th. 

Data Golf, which ranks LIV and PGA Tour members, believes Rahm is currently the fifth best player in the world right now behind Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele. 

The aforementioned Henley, Tommy Fleetwood, Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Thomas and Tyrrell Hatton round out the current top-10 on Data Golf. 

Here's the OWGR top-10 before the coveted Players Championship:

Rahm has complained about the situation before but primarily his grumbles were because LIV golfers did not have direct access to qualifying for the major championships. 

The R&A and USGA have since confirmed they will award one spot to the leading LIV player for this year's Open and U.S. Open. 

"I think at this point to not give LIV World Ranking points and the credibility it deserves, I think is wrong," Rahm told reporters in Dubai earlier in the year. 

"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, and I hope that evolves into what it should be.

"The world ranking points need to figure something out because it's not fair for anybody."