Spain’s Jon Rahm claimed a second consecutive LIV Golf season crown on Sunday, despite falling to Colombia’s Sebastian Muñoz in a playoff at LIV Golf Indianapolis.
Muñoz birdied the first extra hole at Chatham Hills to capture his first LIV title, after both players finished on 22-under-par 191 in the Saudi-backed league’s final individual event of the year.
The Colombian had closed with birdies at 17 and 18 in regulation before repeating the feat at 18 in the playoff.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever beaten him, so I’m really proud,” said Muñoz, whose last victory came at the 2019 Sanderson Farms Championship. “To birdie 18 twice in a row in that situation was just incredible.”
Rahm, who fired a blistering 11-under 60, suffered a second successive playoff defeat but still did enough to edge Chile’s Joaquín Niemann in the season-long points race, repeating his 2024 triumph.
“Still slightly bittersweet,” Rahm admitted. “It’s a great moment, but it doesn’t feel great to finish the year losing two playoffs. Winning the season title without winning an event … eventually I’ll be proud, but right now it stings.”
Niemann, who lifted five trophies this season – in Adelaide, Singapore, Mexico City, Virginia and Britain – finished T4 on 196 with a final-round 66. He conceded frustration at falling just short.
“It sucks,” he said. “The putts didn’t drop when I needed them, and it wasn’t enough. It’s tough to swallow.”
Rahm, a Masters and US Open champion, banked $18-million for securing the season crown, while Niemann collected $8 million as runner-up.
Muñoz, who shot a 59 on Friday – just the third sub-60 round in LIV history – said the win was long overdue.
“It has been a long time coming, six years since my last win,” he said. “To finally get it done feels amazing.”
A storm delay of 55 minutes earlier in the day added to the drama, with players adopting lift, clean and place rules on the softened course.
England’s Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter both avoided relegation for 2026 by finishing inside the top 48 in the season standings. Westwood birdied four of his first five holes, while Poulter birdied four of his last five to secure safety on 201.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson was relegated after missing a birdie putt at the 18th that would have kept him in at Poulter’s expense.
In the team competition, Niemann’s Torque claimed the Indy title – their first since 2023 – while Rahm’s Legion XIII secured the No 1 seeding for next week’s Team Championship.
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Photo: Quinn Harris/Getty Images
Article Link: Rahm secures back-to-back LIV season crowns