Legion XIII Jon Rahm had the ideal confidence booster ahead of the Olympics with a one-shot win over teammate Tyrrell Hatton at LIV Golf United Kingdom.
That was his maiden win on the circuit, but he's been knocking on the door ever since making his debut, with top-10 finishes in every tournament he has completed so far.
He began the day three shots behind overnight leader Andy Ogletree, while Hatton was just two off the lead, and the pair soon made their presence felt with Rahm making birdie on his second hole of the day and Hatton his third.
Meanwhile, Ogletree began even better, with birdies in his first two holes before he eventually began to falter with a double bogey on his eighth. Hatton had another birdie on his fifth hole of the day, while Rahm responded in kind on his sixth before the first big setback of the day hit Hatton with a double bogey. He responded well, with another birdie on his seventh and the pair were level at the turn.
It was Rahm who began to flex his muscles, though, with a birdie on the 10th followed by back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th to give him a two-shot lead over Paul Casey, Hatton and Andy Ogletree with five holes to play.
Ogletree wasn't giving up the fight, and he then birdied his 12th of the day to move within one of Rahm, joined shortly after by Casey after a birdie putt of his own. Ogletree - also looking for his maiden title - then birdied his 13th of the day to move level with Rahm as five players stood within two of the lead with five to play.
However, disaster struck for Ogletree on the par 3 14th as he missed the green left, then his chip shot didn't reach the bank and rolled back to his feet. His next chip found the green, but he missed his bogey putt, with a double bogey putting him two back.
As Ogletree's challenge continued to fade, Hatton came more to the fore despite barely hitting his birdie putt at the 15th, which would have drawn him level.
On his penultimate hole of the day, Rahm then had the chance to turn the screw, but he missed a short putt and had to settle for bogey as he and Hatton shared the lead.
Rahm duly closed out his round with par to finish on -13 under. Hatton, meanwhile, was right behind him and left himself a 65-foot putt to take the title on his final hole, but his effort left him six feet short. Needing to hole the putt to force a playoff, he missed by inches, finishing second with Cameron Smith and Joaquin Niemann as Rahm took the title, while Legion XIII won its fourth of the season.
Afterwards, an emotional Rahm paid tribute to the effort of his teammate, saying: "Well, first of all, I've got to give Tyrrell a lot of credit, too. He's a fantastic player, and you never want to see it end like that. I almost wish we would have got it done in the playoff."
Rahm also admitted relief at finally getting his maiden LIV Golf win. He said: "Finally got one done. You never want to get those feelings to go on for too long, and to get over the hump feels great incredible. It's been a fantastic week and a fantastic year, and just relieved that it happened."
LIV GOLF UK INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
-13 Jon Rahm
-12 Joaquin Niemann, Tyrrell Hatton, Cameron Smith
-10 Paul Casey
LIV GOLF UK TEAM LEADERBOARD
-26 Legion XIII GC
-23 Ripper GC
-20 Smash GC, Crushers GC
Updates from...
RAHM LEADS BY TWO
The Spaniard is flying at the JCB Golf and Country Club, with Rahm making back-to-back birdies to pull out a two stroke lead over Paul Casey, Tyrrell Hatton and Andy Ogletree with five holes remaining. It seems that Rahm is on course for a first LIV Golf title!
OGLETREE BIRDIES
Just as a write that, Ogletree birdies the par 4 12th and is now one back of Rahm! The American isn't giving up and, with six holes remaining, is still within touching distance of the two-time Major winner!
CASEY WITHIN ONE
Huge putt for Paul Casey! The Englishman gets a great read off Jon Rahm, with Casey holing his birdie putt to move within one stroke of leader Rahm! It's not just Casey who makes a move, as fellow countryman, Tyrrell Hatton, holes his birdie putt to move within one! What a finish we have in store...
OGLETREE SHARES THE LEAD
This is set for a thrilling finish! Andy Ogletree birdies the 12th and 13th to join Jon Rahm in a share of a lead at the JCB Golf and Country Club! There are five players within two shots of the lead and, with five holes remaining, it's anyone's to play for!
HUGE MISTAKES FROM THE LEADERS
After getting himself into a share of the lead, Ogletree makes a huge mistake at the par 3 14th! Missing the green left, his chip shot doesn't reach the bank and rolls back to his feet. His next chip finds the green, but he misses his bogey putt, with a double bogey putting him two back.
Away from Ogletree, Rahm pars the 14th, with Casey's tee shot at the 15th finishing out of bounds! Rahm will be clear with a few holes remaining!
RAHM PARS THE 15TH
The two-time Major winner has a chance to extend his lead with a birdie at the par 4 15th, but his attempt comes up short. Despite the poor putt, he holes the par putt to keep ahead.
To add further, Paul Casey double bogeys the same hole to fall well back. Arguably, it's Rahm's tournament to lose right now, as he sits one shot clear with just three holes remaining...
LEGION XIII CRUISING
Leading the team title, Rahm's Legion XIII are also top of the team standings. Sitting eight shots clear, it's still tight for the remainder of the teams, with eight teams battling it out for second and third place...
IT'S NOT OVER YET...
Rahm is in the middle of the fairway at the 16th, but his approach flies the green and nestles down in the thick rough. You'd like to think he would get up and down, but with the pressure on, you never know...
OGLETREE'S PROBLEMS CONTINUE
After a poor drive that required a rules official and barely stayed in bounds, Ogletree calls for another rules official for his next shot, with the American near a cart path. He has already made a double bogey and, with the drop, it seems he is likely to make another.
HATTON MISSES HIS BIRDIE ATTEMPT
Hatton has a great chance to join his teammate, Rahm, at the top of the individual standings, but the Englishman walks after his putt at the 15th before he barely hits it! Hatton remains one back of Rahm with two remaining.
Elsewhere, Ogletree double bogeys the 15th, with his second consecutive double bogey meaning he has dropped down into a share of seventh. Rahm is still one clear with two holes remaining.
POOR FROM HATTON AT THE 16TH
Visible anger from Hatton at the 16th, as he hits a huge pull with his tee shot. It's unclear as to where it finished, but with Rahm finding the green at the 17th, Hatton will be hoping that his tee shot is in good condition as he looks to chase down his Captain.
STUNNER FROM HATTON, BUT NO BIRDIE
It seemed that the Englishman was out of position with his tee shot, but Hatton plays a stunner from the rough and will have a chance of birdie at the par 4 16th to draw alongside Rahm.
Up ahead, Rahm nestles his birdie putt at the 17th close and will, likely, secure his par. He is still on course for his first LIV Golf title, as Hatton misses his birdie attempt on the right side.
RAHM LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN
With Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton breathing down his neck one behind him on the leaderboard, Jon Rahm misses a short putt on the penultimate hole to draw the two level with Hatton heading to the green on his second-to-last hole. Could we be heading for a playoff?
Hatton Misses Birdie Putt For Outright Lead
Following Rahm's uncharacteristic miss on the penultimate green, Tyrrell Hatton has the chance to take the outright lead with a long putt. It comes up just short leaving him with a par putt to stay level.
While it's still anyone's guess which of the pair will take the title, it's looking more clearcut for the pair's team, Legion XIII, who hold a four-shot lead.
Great Effort From Rahm
The Spaniard faces a long putt for birdie and the outright lead on his final hole and the pace is brilliant. Sadly for Rahm, it doesn't quite have the direction, but it still leaves him with an excellent chance of par and the opportunity to keep the pressure on Hatton behind him.
He makes the putt to finish on -13 with Hatton level with him with one hole to play.
Rahm Takes The Title!
Hatton faces an enormous 65-ft putt to win the event on the final green, or two putts to force a playoff with Jon Rahm. His slim chance to win outright doesn't come off. Hatton pushes it left but his par attempt is no certainty, with still six feet between his ball and the hole.
Meanwhile, Rahm looks on wondering if he may have yet done enough to win outright. Hatton's putt to take it to a playoff with his Legion XIII captain misses by inches, leaving emotional Rahm to claim his maiden LIV Golf title. Hatton's bogey leaves him T2 with Joaquin Niemann and Cameron Smith.
Legion XIII wrap up the team title - its fourth of the season.
