BOLINGBROOK, Ill – The countdown is on for the final two events of the 2024 LIV Golf League season, with much at stake for players and teams heading into LIV Golf Chicago, teeing off Sept. 13-15 at Bolingbrook Golf Club. A battle for the season-long individual title between two of the sport’s best, determining final seeds for the team championship, and securing a spot in the league for 2025 are among the exciting races to be decided this week in Illinois. The following week, the 13 teams travel to Texas for the season-ending LIV Golf Dallas Team Championship, Sept. 20-22 at Maridoe Golf Club.

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP: JON RAHM VS. JOAQUIN NIEMANN

In a league complete with major champions, Ryder Cup heroes and rising stars, Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm has positioned himself for a championship finish in his first season with LIV Golf. Rahm, who has finished in the top 10 in all 11 LIV Golf events he has competed in this year, including five top-3 finishes and a victory at LIV Golf UK by JCB, has one challenger for the title of 2024 LIV Golf Individual Champion: Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann, who took home titles in Mayakoba and Jeddah and led the league’s season-long standings until the conclusion of LIV Golf Greenbrier. The duo are the only players mathematically eligible to win the 2024 Individual Championship, with Rahm currently leading Niemann by 195.17 points to 192.20 points, a difference of 2.97 points. Both players are guaranteed to finish either first or second on the season-ending podium.

Rahm will win the title if he finishes ahead or equal to Niemann among the top 15 spots on the Chicago leaderboard. If Niemann finishes 16th or 17th, Rahm must finish inside the top 24 players who receive points. If Niemann finishes 18th or worse, Rahm is guaranteed the title.

For Niemann to claim the title, he must finish with 3 more points than Rahm. Any top-3 result in Chicago will secure him the title, as long as they do not tie and he finishes ahead of Rahm. If Niemann finishes 4th or worse, his fate will be determined by Rahm’s place on the leaderboard. 

“He’s been playing great lately, so he’s probably going to keep doing the same,” Niemann said of Rahm. “I’ve got to try to bring my ‘A’ game.”

Despite the variety of scenarios at play, Rahm is preparing for Niemann to be at the top of the leaderboard in Chicago.

“I’m probably going to need to win,” said Rahm of the race with Niemann. “He’s going to be up there. I’m going to need another good week.”