LIV Golf Hong Kong: Jon Rahm says ‘big weight’ lifted after ending his winless streak
Spaniard beats Thomas Detry by three shots at Hong Kong Golf Club, snapping individual drought dating back almost 18 months
A sense of relief rivalling the one that followed his first professional win is how Jon Rahm described his emotions on sealing victory at HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong on Sunday.
Beating Thomas Detry by three shots finally snapped the Spaniard’s drought of 18 months between individual triumphs, stretching back to the stop in Chicago in the 2024 season.
There have been numerous team victories since then, with Legion XIII and in the Ryder Cup, but he said this one “just feels like a big weight off my shoulders”.
Two weeks ago in Adelaide, Rahm’s final round one-under-par 71 left him in second, three shots behind Anthony Kim. At the season-opener in Riyadh, he missed out to Elvis Smylie by a shot, despite closing with a nine under 63.
On Sunday at Hong Kong Golf Club he carded a six-under 64 to finish on 23 under, and at one stage had a five-shot lead. In Australia he had been four strokes up, and Rahm said he had been determined not to miss out again.
“I was just a little bit too tense [in Adelaide], aware that I hadn’t won in a while,” Rahm said. “Today I told myself going to the first tee, no matter what, every single step I take, it’s 100 per cent committed. Whatever shot I decide, we’re going to go 100 per cent committed, and if I make a mistake, I make a mistake, but it won’t be because I wasn’t committed to the decision.”