LIV Golf Chicago 2024: A Three-Day Recap of the Season’s Climax

Held from September 13-15, 2024, at Bolingbrook Golf Club in Illinois, LIV Golf Chicago was a pivotal event that encapsulated the league’s third season. This three-day thriller saw Brooks Koepka’s opening blitz, then Jon Rahm’s steady ascent, all while the $20 million bonus race between Rahm and Joaquin Niemann loomed large.

What You’ll Uncover in This Post

• A comprehensive day-by-day breakdown of LIV Golf Chicago 2024, from September 13 to 15

• Detailed analysis of Brooks Koepka’s Friday 62, Jon Rahm’s Saturday 64, and some clutch Sunday putts

• The $20 million bonus race between Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann, and its impact on the season’s narrative

• Why LIV Golf Chicago 2024 was a turning point for the league’s competitive landscape

Day 1: Koepka’s 62 Sets the Tone

Brooks Koepka delivered an 8-under 62 at Bolingbrook Golf Club, birdieing his last three holes to establish a four-shot lead over Paul Casey, with Anirban Lahiri one shot further back. Koepka, a five-time major champion, leveraged his league-high five career LIV victories, including wins earlier that year in Singapore and at the Greenbrier. His performance was notable not just for the score but for the context: despite his seven finishes outside the top 10 in the 54-man field, Koepka’s round underscored his elite status. At the time, it was the second-most strokes gained versus the field in the history of the league!

However, his position in the $20 million bonus race was irrelevant, as Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann were the only contenders for that prize.Rahm started with a 67, making five birdies but conceding a bogey on the 18th, keeping him in contention but behind Koepka. Niemann’s 68, marked by five birdies and a double bogey on the 15th, positioned him three shots back.

Key Detail: Koepka’s 62 was the lowest round of the day, four shots clear of Casey and five ahead of Lahiri, but Rahm’s 67 and Niemann’s 68 kept the bonus race alive.

Day 2: Rahm’s 64 Takes Command

Jon Rahm seized control with a 6-under 64, tapping in for birdie on the par-5 third to finish the round at 7-under, one shot better than Sergio Garcia’s 65. Rahm’s round, characterized by six birdies and no bogeys, moved him closer to the $20 million bonus, with the goal of winning the individual title to secure it. “The goal is to win,” Rahm stated. “If I do that, the rest takes care of itself.”

Joaquin Niemann, despite a double bogey on Friday’s 15th, birdied his last two holes for a 68, landing at 4-under, three shots behind Rahm. Brooks Koepka, who had led after the first round, struggled with a 73, featuring six bogeys and one birdie, dropping him to 5-under, two shots back.

Key Detail: Rahm’s 64 gave him a one-shot lead over Garcia, with Niemann three back and Koepka two behind, intensifying the Sunday showdown for the individual title and the bonus race.

Day 3: Jon Rahm’s Triumph Seals LIV Golf Chicago and the Individual Title

Jon Rahm’s first regular season with LIV Golf concluded in spectacular fashion, as he secured his second tournament win in three starts and the coveted season-long individual championship at Bolingbrook Golf Club. The 29-year-old Spanish star, captain of Legion XIII and a two-time Major winner, shot a bogey-free 4-under 66 on Sunday, holding off Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann to claim both LIV Golf Chicago and the individual title. Niemann and Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia tied for second, three shots back at 8-under, while Rahm finished at 11-under.

Rahm’s performance was a testament to his expectations when he joined LIV Golf in December 2023. “I wouldn’t say it exceeded my expectations … but it definitely met what I expected,” Rahm said, reflecting on his season. His Sunday round, marked by three birdies in the first 10 holes and two consecutive par-saving putts on the 11th and 12th, showcased his resilience. Despite a three-putt par at the par-5 14th, Rahm bounced back with a birdie at the 17th, quelling any hopes of a late Niemann rally. Rahm played bogey-free golf for the last 38 holes and suffered just one bogey all week (in Friday’s first round), winning for the second time that season after his victory at LIV Golf UK in July and a playoff loss to Brooks Koepka at the Greenbrier the previous month.

Rahm’s consistency throughout the season was remarkable, finishing in the top 10 in all 12 regular-season tournaments he completed, with the lone exception being a withdrawal due to a foot infection in Houston. His final point total of 235.17 was nearly 16 points better than Niemann’s, fueled by his steady play and two wins. “It was quite fun to see Jon Rahm play as well as he did this year,” said Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau, whose team secured the top seed for the upcoming Dallas Team Championship with their third title of the season.

The battle between Rahm and Niemann for the individual championship was intense. Rahm entered Sunday with a three-stroke advantage, and Niemann applied early pressure with birdies on two of his first three holes. However, Rahm’s steady hand and strategic play ensured he maintained his lead. Niemann’s amazing golf was not enough, as he finished three shots behind, acknowledging, “I knew I had to do something great, and I felt like I did. I played amazing golf. But I feel like to beat someone like Jon Rahm, you’ve got to do things better.”Sergio Garcia’s tie for second with Niemann, overtaking Legion’s Tyrrell Hatton by one point for the final bonus-earning spot on the podium, added another layer to the day’s drama. The final seeds for the Dallas Team Championship were also determined, with Crushers GC, Legion XIII, and Ripper GC earning the three byes for the quarter-finals.

Rahm’s championship ring, received post-round, symbolized his season-long dominance, even if it needed resizing. “It’s a different feeling,” Rahm said. “Just being able to culminate all the good golf all season, and especially doing it by winning individually today I think is what makes it so much more special. Knowing that I had to win and getting it done is something to really be proud of and something to reflect on.” This victory, combined with his season-long consistency, cemented Rahm’s place as LIV Golf’s standout performer in 2024, setting the stage for the Team Championship and leaving a lasting legacy in the league’s third season.

Key Detail: Rahm’s 66 on Sunday, finishing at 11-under, secured both the LIV Golf Chicago title and the individual championship, with Niemann and Garcia tying for second at 8-under, highlighting Rahm’s bogey-free finish and season-long dominance.

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