Jon Rahm to Drop Outside World Top 50 for First Time Since 2017 Due to LIV Move
Jon Rahm is set to drop outside the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) for the first time since his breakthrough win at the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open. This significant drop comes primarily due to his move to LIV Golf, which doesn't receive OWGR points.
Despite the rankings slide, DataGolf still considers Rahm the world's fourth-best golfer, behind Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Xander Schauffele.
Several factors have contributed to Rahm's rankings decline:
- No OWGR points from LIV Golf events
- Mixed performance in 2024 majors (MC at PGA Championship, T-45 at Masters)
- Missed U.S. Open due to injury
- T-7 finish at The Open
- Missed cut at Hero Dubai Desert Classic
On the positive side, Rahm has achieved:
- Two LIV Golf victories last season
- Back-to-back top-10 finishes to start this season
- Three top-10 finishes on the DP World Tour in fall 2023
Regarding OWGR points for LIV Golf, Rahm acknowledges the situation while expressing his disagreement: "I think at this point to not give LIV World Ranking points and the credibility it deserves is wrong." While the USGA and R&A have created exemptions for LIV players, OWGR points remain unlikely for the circuit after former CEO Greg Norman withdrew LIV's application.
Unless Rahm significantly improves his major championship performances in the coming season, his OWGR position will likely continue to decline due to LIV Golf's non-qualifying status.