Jon Rahm, one of golf’s most consistent stars and a perennial winner since bursting onto the professional scene in 2016, finds himself in unfamiliar territory as 2025 draws to a close. For the first time in his professional career, Rahm will end a season without a single individual tournament victory. Yet, even in a year that many would call winless, the Spaniard’s campaign was anything but uneventful or lacking in drama.
On October 13, 2025, Rahm confirmed to reporters after finishing tied for ninth at the Spanish Open that he is stepping away from competitive golf for nearly four months. This decision means fans won’t see him tee it up again until the LIV Golf League returns for its 2026 season opener in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 5. "I’ve never had three months off, but I’m looking forward to it," Rahm told Ten Golf. "Other athletes have it, and we’ll see. I’m lucky to be able to go home now, have a preseason, be a father, be with my family, and well, if I see that it’s too much, then maybe I won’t do it next year, but I’m looking forward to it."
Rahm’s final event of the year, the Open de España at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, was supposed to be a coronation. He was aiming to become the first player in history to win the Spanish Open four times. Instead, it was England’s Marco Penge who triumphed after a playoff victory over Dan Brown, while Rahm settled for a "backdoor" top-10 finish, closing with a final-round 68 for a 12-under-par total. The result left Rahm short of his historic goal and, more pressingly, put his DP World Tour membership at risk, as he only played three of the four required events to retain his status for next year.
Despite the absence of a trophy, Rahm’s 2025 season was marked by a string of near-misses and impressive consistency. Across 20 events spanning the LIV Golf League, DP World Tour, and all four majors, the 30-year-old racked up 15 top-10 finishes and four runner-ups. In the LIV Golf League, his worst finish in 13 individual starts was a tie for 11th in Dallas. Even without a single individual victory, Rahm’s steady play allowed him to clinch the LIV Golf season-long Individual Championship for the second consecutive year, edging out Joaquin Niemann, who had five tournament wins of his own. That feat netted Rahm an $18 million bonus, contributing to a staggering $34.25 million in total LIV earnings for the season.
Rahm’s year was also highlighted by team success. He led his Legion XIII squad to the LIV Golf Team Championship title, further cementing his reputation as both a reliable anchor and a fierce competitor. The team triumphs didn’t stop there. In September, Rahm was a central figure in Team Europe’s Ryder Cup victory at Bethpage Black, New York. He posted a 3-2-0 record and described the week as both the toughest and most fun of his career. "The most emotional, the most special thing has been the Ryder Cup. The only week that has a chance of matching this Ryder Cup on an emotional level will be the Spanish Ryder Cup in 2031," Rahm remarked. "It would be special, but as tough as the New York Ryder Cup was and ending up winning, I find it difficult for another week to match it."
Rahm’s performances in the majors were solid if not spectacular, with a tied 8th at the PGA Championship and a tied 7th at the U.S. Open. Given his pedigree as a two-time major champion with over 20 career wins before turning 30, expectations were sky-high. Still, his consistent presence near the top of leaderboards showed that his game remains sharp, even if the silverware eluded him this time around.
Off the course, Rahm’s season was not without controversy. His move to the PIF-backed LIV Golf circuit nearly two years ago brought with it a slew of fines and suspensions from the DP World Tour. Rahm, along with Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton, has appealed these sanctions, and the hearings—postponed until after the Ryder Cup—remain unresolved. "I have no idea. I have no clue," Rahm said of the ongoing process. "To be fair, I completely forgot about, which is a good thing. I hope I forget about it until it happens." The uncertainty surrounding his DP World Tour membership and potential penalties adds yet another layer of intrigue to his already eventful year.
Rahm’s decision to skip the late-season DP World Tour events in India, South Korea, and the Middle East Playoffs means he’ll finish the year ranked 56th in the Race to Dubai. While he’s fulfilled his four-event quota to retain his membership—pending the outcome of his appeal—he won’t be able to catch rankings leader Rory McIlroy, who continues to dominate the circuit.
It’s easy to look at Rahm’s 2025 season and focus on what didn’t happen: no tournament wins, no Spanish Open history, and no late-year heroics. But that would be missing the bigger picture. Rahm’s ability to consistently contend, to lead teams to championships, and to remain a force in the game even during a "down" year speaks volumes about his talent and resilience. Few players could call a year with 15 top-10s, a Ryder Cup win, and a season-long individual title "disappointing."
As Rahm steps away from the game for his longest break in memory, he’ll have time to reflect on a season that was, in his own words, "the weirdest year of my life." Will the time off recharge his competitive fire? Will he return to reclaim his spot atop the podium in 2026? With his next start not slated until February in Riyadh, golf fans will have to wait and see.
One thing’s for sure: Jon Rahm’s story is far from over, and if his past is any indication, he’ll be back with a vengeance—ready to chase history once again.
