Jon Rahm has made a swift rise in the Official World Golf Ranking, while LIV Golf players are still fighting to qualify for major championships. The current global landscape shows the Spanish powerhouse climbing to the 11th spot without hitting a single competitive shot on the course during this particular tournament week.

The above subtle but notable movement results from an exceptional show at the PGA Championship held from May 14 to 17, in which he tied for second.

As highlighted by Pro Golf Critic on X about this shifting dynamic: "No noteworthy OWGR movement this week. Rahm actually moved up a spot without playing. Another trophy for Rahm this week in Korea will get him back inside the Top 5."

With the unique combination of ranking through the use of the divisor method that takes into account competition over a period of two years, Legion XIII’s captain has managed to outshine Russell Henley quietly. Rahm's average points climbed to 4.7322, safely edging past Henley's 4.6933.

Rahm's fellow teammate, Tyrrell Hatton, is another big name from LIV Golf, who maintained his ranking in the top 30, currently settled in 27th place.

Crucial Deadlines Loom for Major Championship Entry 

Rahm’s mathematical ascent comes in direct opposition to his exempt peers striving for that top 60 mark in the OWGR. The last deadline before automatic entry for the upcoming major is set for June 15.

Those inside the ranking line by the final deadline earn automatic entry into the 126th U.S. Open Championship, which is scheduled for June 18–21, 2026.

The highly competitive championship tournament is slated to take place in the famous Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. However, for non-exempt players, not climbing fast enough implies being put through a great deal of stress in qualifying brackets.

Unlike many of his fellow LIV Golf players, Rahm is safe thanks to his past major wins and does not need to worry about qualifying for upcoming major tournaments.

However, pressure on the other players increases even more due to the R&A enforcing a top-50 OWGR cut-off to automatically qualify for the 154th Open Championship, which takes place July 16-19 at Royal Birkdale.

Meanwhile, other LIV Golf stars like Joaquin Niemann still need to earn important ranking points. Their chances of qualifying for major tournaments will depend heavily on their performances in upcoming events in Korea and Andalucía.

Read more at Club Golf!

Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Ankita Yadav