The two-year rivalry: Niemann vs. Rahm for the season-long title in Indy

WESTFIELD, Ind. – The first round Jon Rahm played after joining LIV Golf came in early February 2024 at Mayakoba, Mexico. Fueled by five birdies in his first seven holes, he shot a perfectly respectable 66. Though he didn’t necessarily realize it at the time, Rahm also received a quick dose of reality in whom his chief rival would be for his first two years in the league.

Playing in the group just ahead of him that day was Joaquin Niemann, who made an eagle and 10 birdies to shoot 59. Two days later, Niemann and Rahm played together for the first time in a LIV Golf group, the final threesome off the first tee. Both shot 70, with Niemann making the playoff in which he beat Sergio Garcia in near-darkness for the first of his seven LIV Golf victories.

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Later that month, Niemann and Rahm were in the same group in the opening round in Jeddah. Rahm shot a bogey-free 8-under 62 to grab a share of the lead, but he couldn’t shake Niemann, who shot a 63. Two days later, Niemann would win again, this time by four strokes.

In just that first month, LIV Golf’s most compelling individual competitive rivalry was born. It eventually produced Niemann vs. Rahm for the Individual Championship in 2024, and it’s Niemann vs Rahm again for the same crown at this week’s LIV Golf Indianapolis. Rahm seeks to defend; Niemann seeks to replace.

“He’s a fantastic competitor, fantastic golfer, great person as well,” said Rahm, the Legion XIII captain. “It’s a lot of fun to share the stage with him.”

“Obviously it’s fun to play your best game and be competing against someone who is playing his best game as well,” added Niemann, who captains Torque GC.

They’ll play in the same threesome off the first tee in Friday’s opening round at The Club at Chatham Hills; it will be the 17th time they’ve shared the same group in LIV Golf. The other member of the threesome is Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau, who ranks third in points but has no mathematical shot of catching either player for the title.

“The level of competition they bring to LIV is out of control,” DeChambeau said. “It makes it almost impossible for some guys. That’s what we need. We need continued push by those guys at the top to showcase what the best in the world looks like. Couldn’t be more proud of those individuals for leading the way.”

In LIV Golf’s 25 regular-season tournaments that have included Niemann and Rahm in the field, they’ve combined for nine wins, six runner-up finishes, five thirds, 38 total top 10s and 45 points finishes (top 24 on the leaderboard). They were 1-2 in points last year – Rahm winning the season-long title with a victory last year at LIV Golf Chicago; Niemann tied for second on the tournament leaderboard that week – and of course will be 1-2 in points again when the season standings are finalized Sunday. The only question is in which order.

Unlike last year, when each player won two tournaments and reached the podium four other times, their paths this season have been wildly diverse. Niemann has five wins but no other significant points finishes. Rahm has no wins but three seconds and eight other top 10s; his worst result is a T11 in Dallas when DeChambeau birdied his last hole in the final round to jump above him on the leaderboard. It remains the only non-top 10 finish Rahm has suffered in the 24 regular-season tournaments he’s completed.

Thanks to his consistency, Rahm has stayed within striking distance of Niemann in the season-long standings this year. He’s 12.27 points behind entering Indianapolis and could conceivably win the Championship without actually winning the tournament – although in his mind, his only realistic chance to repeat as season-long champ will be to win the event and hope Niemann doesn’t finish solo second. That’s the only scenario in which Rahm can celebrate both the tournament and season-long trophies on Sunday.

“In a weird way, it should be more one-sided with what he was able to do, with how many wins he’s had this year,” Rahm said. “I guess consistency can pay off, but man, winning five times anywhere is incredible. My hat’s off to him to what he’s been able to do.”

Their leaderboard dominance has created a unique dynamic between the two. Mutual admiration, to be sure, but also the opportunity to push each other. Consider this: Of their 16 previous rounds together in the same group, they’re separated by just two strokes (Niemann 1,087; Rahm 1,089).

Perhaps it’s no surprise that Niemann, the league’s youngest captain at age 26, has taken his game to the next level since Rahm’s arrival. “He’s a great competitor. He’s always there,” Niemann said. “He never gives a shot away. It’s fun to play with someone like that that pushes you to be better … I feel like it’s something that we feed off from each other here. That’s probably how competition works, right?”

While Rahm is four years older and has the most established golf resume with two major titles, he seemed almost sheepish when asked about his LIV Golf rivalry with Niemann. In his mind, Niemann’s five wins to his zero in 2025 makes things a bit lopsided.

“I would like him to continue doing what he’s doing and hopefully I can elevate my game to be able to compete with him more often and maybe steal a few of those wins,” Rahm said. “Not that I would ever think it’s a rivalry or anything like that, but he’s certainly put himself there. Seven wins in two years is spectacular.”

Perhaps taking wildly diverse paths to reach this point has made their connection even more intriguing. It’s a showcase of achievements in different ways, but always with the same goal in mind – end the regular-season on the highest of notes.

“They’ve been playing some unbelievable golf at LIV,” DeChambeau said. “[Rahm’s] feat of not finishing outside 11th place his entire career is quite honestly one of the best feats I’ve seen in a long time. Joaco winning as many times as he has, another amazing feat. …

“What they’re doing is great for LIV, it’s great for golf. Honestly, I think whoever wins – I’m not going to say who, but it’s going to be an awesome feat and historic year for either one.”