Spanish star lands Hong Kong victory but falls short in playoff at LIV Golf South Africa. Mexico City awaits next challenge.
Jon Rahm continues his search for consistency on the LIV Golf League, bouncing between victories and near-misses in the early stages of the 2026 season. The Spanish golfer captured the LIV Golf Hong Kong title on March 8 with an impressive performance, only to suffer the disappointment of a playoff defeat just two weeks later in South Africa.
Hong Kong Victory Followed by South Africa Setback
Rahm dominated at Hong Kong, finishing at 23-under par with a commanding three-shot victory. The win appeared to signal a return to peak form for the accomplished international competitor. However, his fortunes shifted dramatically at LIV Golf South Africa on March 22, where he finished tied with Bryson DeChambeau at 26-under par, only to lose the playoff decision.
The back-to-back performances at Hong Kong and South Africa highlighted Rahm’s volatility across his five LIV Golf appearances so far in 2026. Since the season began, his results read as follows: second place, second place, first place, tied fourth, and second place again. While the overall record shows promising moments—particularly the South Africa score of 26-under par—the consistency required to dominate the league format has eluded him through March.
Looking Ahead to Mexico City
The circuit now takes a brief pause before the next competition. LIV Golf has no scheduled event this week, giving players time to rest and prepare. The focus shifts to Mexico City, where the next LIV Golf event will take place April 16-19.
For Rahm, the Mexico City stop represents another opportunity to build momentum and move beyond the frustration of the South Africa playoff loss. After touching elite form with his 26-under performance—matching DeChambeau’s tournament score—the Spanish golfer will seek to convert that level of play into victory when the league resumes competition in April.
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