LIV GOLF ANDALUCíA

July 13, 2025

Jon Rahm

Tyrrell Hatton

Caleb Surratt

Tom McKibbin

Real Club Valderrama

Legion XIII

Press Conference

JON RAHM: I can't believe back-to-back years we got a win with a Spanish member on the team, so at least keep it in the family. That's something I'm happy about. What a great Sunday we had, and everybody played really good golf. Not like we were too far from having a chance. It's never too far in Valderrama, but everybody needed to play good. Tyrrell had a great finish, Caleb had a great finish, and Tom and I had a really good round. To get a win is always very good. To keep up the numbers to what we had last year is really good.

It's nice to see everybody playing really good golf. Three of us are luckily heading to the Open. One of us three gets a good chance I hope, and come towards the rest of the year, we'll just keep playing like we have so far.

Q. Tom, 5-under par 66 to finish tied fourth. You're one of those 19 players heading to the Open in Northern Ireland next week. What kind of momentum and confidence does a performance like that give you heading into next week?

TOM McKIBBIN: Yeah, it gives me a lot of confidence. My game has felt good for the last couple of weeks, and to finish off well here today around a very difficult golf course and going into another difficult golf course next week gives me a lot of confidence going there, and really looking forward to it, somewhere that I've played a lot of golf growing up and in the wintertime, somewhere that I enjoy playing. Really excited to go over there.

Q. Tyrrell, Legion XIII started the day five shots back of the 4Aces. All four of you were under par today. Talk about winning in front of the Spanish fans and getting the third win together as a team.

TYRRELL HATTON: Well, firstly, I think that's the interesting thing about all four scores counting. I saw at one point today, I think we were six shots behind. We know how quickly things can change. Jon and Tom had a fantastic day today, and that certainly was the main reason why we're sat here now.

Obviously me and Caleb shot level, which I think Caleb had a good finish to his round.

But I would say from our standpoint, it's probably disappointing individually, but it's great to win as a team win, and some more points on the board.

Q. Caleb, well played today, I think you were 4-over at one stage for your round and closed with five birdies to finish 1-under for the day. What does that say about your mindset, your motivation to get the team win for Legion XIII?

CALEB SURRATT: Yeah, I think like today on my 10th hole when I looked up at the leaderboard and saw how well the other guys were playing, especially Tom and Jon, it almost felt like I was holding us back. That gave me a lot of motivation to go finish really strong and also to try and carry as much positive vibes going into JCB as possible.

It's honestly something that I know I have. I know I have a lot of fight. I've played a lot of really good golf this week, and unfortunately just seven to eight holes kind of took me out of contention of the tournament. That's something I need to keep getting better at.

Q. Jon, I wanted to ask you about your reaction to making that final putt. Was it because you knew you had clinched the team? Was it because you knew you were forcing Talor to at least make par? Was it just a nice way to end?

JON RAHM: I think it's all of the above. I wasn't sure -- we took some time on 17 due to Patrick's drop, so I didn't know if they were done or not. I didn't know what the score was at the time, if it was posted or not.

Obviously team-wise, I wanted it. I wanted it to selfishly have a bogey-free round at Valderrama, which is hard to do, and then obviously to give myself a chance to possibly tie Talor. I knew he had hit the fairway. You could see the first tee shot over there in the fairway. I knew I needed it, and I needed him to make a mistake. It was a bit of everything. Plus it's also nice to hole a putt of mid-range when you need to.

It's all of it combined.

Q. You guys shot 12-under as a team today, but on each of your back nines collectively it was 9-under. It seemed like you guys always seem to be able to turn it on down the stretch. Is there something about it? Is it just golf? Are you conscious of this is our time now, we're going to make a run?

JON RAHM: Well, I can only speak for myself. Having a chance to win individually, I was just trying to catch Talor, try to keep making birdies, and obviously you're going to help the team in that case.

If you have a week where you're not playing your best, which we've all been there, but you see the team has a chance to win, it definitely gives everything an added motivation and added pressure and intensity because you want to help the team win. That's the beauty of all four scores counting. Every shot you hit is going to matter every single week, and it's what makes it so special. You may be finishing on the 6th hole, and even if you don't have a good round going and the team has a one-shot lead, hopefully you make a par or birdie to better that chance.

Q. Tyrrell, along the same lines, you made a birdie on your final hole. Was it something that kind of ran through your mind that you knew every shot counted at that moment?

TYRRELL HATTON: To be honest, at that moment I didn't know where we were as a team. I'm pretty sure the last leaderboard I saw was -- it might have been in the middle of the back nine. I finished on the 3rd.

At that time we were six behind, and yeah, I didn't know that that would be -- my birdie on the last would play a part into us sitting here now.

Yeah, I'd be lying if I said otherwise.

Q. How much do you guys talk about this week, having Jon here in Spain, winning at Valderrama as a team? Was there a conversation about it or did you kind of know, hey, this is a big week for us?

CALEB SURRATT: Yeah, it wasn't something I had thought too much about until I had played well in round 1 and Jon and I were paired together. That almost felt like a little bit of like the Tiger effect playing with Jon in Spain a little bit. Jon holes out, all the masses go, so that rattled me a little bit. Yeah, that was probably the first time I had experienced that, but I just can't help but think about that putt on 18. I had a perfect view from right behind the hole, and it was just what champions do, and it's super motivating and something I want to be doing one day.

Q. Jon, trying to win a tournament on Spain's most famous course, where do the adrenaline levels compare to other tournaments in your career for you?

JON RAHM: It would depend which ones. I think I said in some interviews before that the three Spanish Opens, when it comes to strength of field, are nowhere near some of the tournaments I've been able to accomplish, but because of what it means to me and what it entails to the week in Spain and all the commitments, it can almost be up there with the hardest.

So I feel very fortunate to have been able to win in Spain. I haven't been able to do it individually here in Valderrama. I think I've played five times now, two missed cuts, two second places. I've definitely had my chances.

But it's different reasons. There's a lot of history here.

In the pre-round video that they had José Andre speaking, like Jon's Legion and Sergio's Fireballs are walking on Seve's shadow, every time I heard it, I got goosebumps just because of what he meant to golf in Spain, what he meant to me and what that Ryder Cup meant, what this golf course meant. It's the only reason why my dad ever picked up a golf club; two friends happened to have been here and watched it, never seen a golf course or a golf club or knew anything about golf in their life. Every time I tee it up here it means a lot.

It's a hard enough golf course as it is to add that on to it, and even though I played extremely well, almost for the crowd and myself, it always makes it a little bit harder to overcome when you don't get it done. It's extremely exciting when you get it done, but to not be able to, it takes a little bit more than just any regular second place to process and get over.

Q. It could be a burden, but it felt like much more of an inspiration today. Did it feel that way to you?

JON RAHM: It's uplifting, 100 percent. Sort of being in the group with Talor and having the crowd be in my favor, being the group in front and having enough people for him to hear what's going on, I think it's a massive bonus, yeah.

The only thing that could be any negative is the commitments before the tournament starts. Once the golf starts, it's all a positive.

Q. Aside from winning, is that the best scenario for you going into next week, just responding to that pressure today?

JON RAHM: Yeah, I mean, if you're not going to win, second best is best case scenario. Today I played one of the better rounds of golf I've played in a very long time. I made one bad swing, which was a really bad one, but besides that it was nothing but really good ones, which is hard to do on this golf course. It's a very positive momentum to take into next week.

Q. Jon, a couple of questions.

First, I don't know if you're aware, but I imagine you are, that it's your best round at Valderrama, based on the result, 65. I think you know that. I wanted to ask you, what was so special about this round to shoot a 6 under, a 65, with no bogeys? Second, related to that, I'll ask you another question later, when was the last time you played golf or felt so comfortable on the course?

JON RAHM: Yes, I was aware that it was, man, I think I shot 2 or 3 under. Four. Okay. Well, let's see. The round was very good. I played very, very, very well. A little better than yesterday, but yesterday it was a little windier, and I enjoyed sinking the putts. It was a stress-free day. The ones I missed, three greens, I had to putt them all, and the 18th was a putt. The rest were all very easy birdie putts, except for the 16th.

It was a "dream" day at Valderrama. Just what I needed to give myself a chance.

I'm very happy, to be honest. I can't tell you when the last time was. I think maybe the first round of the 2023 Masters was when I felt this comfortable.

Being very demanding. I've played very well. I've had some very good rounds. But in terms of comfort, knowing every time I hit the ball, feeling what's going to happen, and that's exactly what happens, good or bad, that 65 feels great.

JON RAHM: The other one was the Ryder Cup, but that was in 2023.

Q. I wanted to ask if there was a moment on this last round when you felt like you could really win.

JON RAHM: Yes, man. The whole nine seconds. I got to three under. That's always kind of the goal.

When you have a lot of strokes to make up, if you make up half of them in nine holes, that's good, then with the pressure at the end, you never know. And I would say exactly that.

From the 10th onwards, I felt like I had options, then with that great birdie on the 10th and the birdie on the 11th, that's when I knew I was in a great position. And from then on, it was a matter of luck, assuming you make a birdie on the 17th, which is never easy. To get one more before him. Right? And then, like I said yesterday, you have to hope for a mistake that Talor didn’t make. It was the same at the beginning, but in the end, playing the last nine holes 2 under par, hats off, I really did well.

Q. Do you feel that everything has finally fallen into place?

Looking ahead to next week. Especially since I imagine it will be a big challenge for the season.

JON RAHM: Being golf, the sport we play, I'm not going to say that. Because this sport has a habit of tripping you up every time you feel like you're there. It's a very curious thing. But yes, the truth is that in the last few months since the PGA, I've noticed that I'm playing better golf. And this week in general has been different. The truth is.

Q. Jon, both yesterday and today we've seen a very good level of play from you. Even today we saw something better than a birdie on some holes.

I'd like to know two things.

The first is a bit related to the question my colleague just asked. You're coming into next week at your best, which was one of your goals for the season. And then I'd like to know if the stoppage on the 17th hole with Patrick Reed's tee shot affected you a bit going into the 18th.

JON RAHM: The stoppage didn't affect me. If it had affected me, it would have affected me more on the putt. Having to think about it so much is complicated. Putting yourself in that situation and saying, "OK, I'll look at it, I won't look at it. Do I use this time to examine every part of the putt?

You don't want to do anything different from your normal routine. Right?

JON RAHM: Not for the tee shot on the 18th. To be honest, I think I had the wind a little wrong. I thought it was more to the left, but it was a terrible swing. All three of us did it. I don't know what to say. All three of us in the group did it, but it didn't affect me in that sense.

The truth is that I handled it pretty well, knowing that it could happen, because where I was, if I had waited on the fairway, it would have affected me more for the second shot than anything else.

The first question?

Ah, yes, let's see.

Nothing is guaranteed. Coming here and playing so comfortably helps. Next week depends on a lot of things. The weather looks bad. Let's see what happens.

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... Very happy.

Q. On Wednesday, you seemed happy, calm, optimistic, and today you ended with an even bigger smile. I imagine you're happy with how everything has gone. With how people have supported you throughout the entire journey. Do you feel that craziness every time you set foot in Spain, in Andalusia? That people are crazy about you?

JON RAHM: The truth is, it's a joy.

They come out with so much energy that it's really hard for me to control it. If I'm playing the same way, I'm saying it wrong, Carlos, if I'm saying it wrong, tell me. But if you're playing tennis, it helps you run faster.

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I don't want to go between shots with too much energy that it might affect me. Having to calm down every time they cheer me on, or when I hit a bad shot and get frustrated, and they cheer even louder and try to support me more, it's a bit of a struggle to deal with those ups and downs.

And maintaining a certain stability during the return.

But it's a joy, really.

There have been so many times when things have started badly and I've used the crowd's encouragement to make things go better for me.

It's like having, not a second caddy, but another person by my side helping me. And I'm very proud of that.

That's the same reason why I say that when you don't win, it hurts a little more.

Q. When you pump your fist on the 18th, you do it to save a par that had gotten really complicated, to give yourself a chance to win, because of the round you've played. And to let out that scream and make Gooch a little more nervous?

JON RAHM: To celebrate because I made a putt for par and gave myself a better chance as an individual, and to secure the team victory.

In the end, overall it's a shame it wasn't for birdie, but the 18th is a very difficult hole, one of the most difficult in the world.

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... A joy.

Q. Jon, it was reported this week that a delegation from the Vizcaya Provincial Council has been here at Valderrama. They have the goal, the desire to host an LIV tournament in the future, I don't know if it will be next year, in two years or whenever possible. And they would like you to consider it. Being your homeland, what would you think about that, can you share your thoughts?

JON RAHM: You know as much as I do. There's not much more to share.

If there's one place I like more than Valderrama, I'd have to say it's Vizcaya. What can I say?

To be able to play a LIV tournament with some of the best players in the world and compete in front of an audience that is even closer to home, and if it's in Bilbao, I don't know what to say. No idea. I wouldn't know what to say.

I don't want to get ahead of myself. Because a lot can happen in this world with this schedule. But hopefully, if it's not next year, then in two or three or whatever, it will happen and I'll be lucky enough to compete at home, in Vizcaya, and I imagine that Vizcaya has to be Bilbao. Because there's not much else.

Q. Hi Jon. Everything we've talked about seems to be improving and falling into place lately. What reassures you the most?

Or what do you see as the biggest improvement?

The driver, the irons, the putts—what gives you the most satisfaction?

JON RAHM: A little bit of everything, but I've been going through a period where I don't like my swing, and the ball starts to the left without coming back toward the target.

This week, the ones that I felt should come back have all come back, and some of the ones that didn't have come back, and others haven't. So I'm very happy about that.

In general, mostly—not all clubs, but most of them.

I'm very comfortable with the driver. The caddy had it ready, and you had no doubt that it was going to be on the fairway, whether you missed or not. But the truth is that it's gone very, very well. And the ones I've missed haven't been by much.

And it's the same with the irons. I feel very confident that if I want to hit it low, to the left, or change the ball's trajectory, I have much more control over the distance. I feel very comfortable in that sense.

It's the same feeling, but with most of the clubs.

Q. Hi Jon. Quick question. How much does the team victory mean to you?

There's talk of another championship, but we haven't said anything about the team. How much does it mean to you?

And the last thing that was said this week is that LIV might come back, no, enter the world rankings. What can you tell us?

JON RAHM: I said to myself I can't leave without you asking me that question. Please.

As team captain, the team victory means a lot to me. Maybe if you see another Spaniard, you give them more importance, being the only one. But I'm very, very happy.

Last year we started very strong, winning at the beginning, we also won the first tournament of the season. We've won three or four last year and we're adding more.

So let's see if we can keep playing well. I think that counting the four results, it's better for us because I think we are four very, very complete players.

And well, let's see if this year brings a good opportunity. I don't know if we're first or second, close to first, but if we keep playing well, we'll have a good chance at the team title and hopefully win it. In the end, that's obviously what we all want.

The world ranking.

I don't know. You tell me. I think what you've seen this week is a good level of golf. It deserves points. How many?

I don't know.

The excuse, or argument that many use, is that this is an exhibition. For me, that's false.

And, whether you like it or not, whether it's a cut or not, whether they have three or four rounds or not, it's good competition. It's competition. And it deserves world ranking points.

I hope it happens.

I hope it doesn't take too long.

Because I think there are good players here.

There are good young players here who deserve the opportunity to qualify for the majors.

And let's hope that this is the beginning of more LIV players qualifying for the majors directly because of how they play in the LIV.

We've had Joaquín and Sergio. I think they've qualified for the majors. Let's see if this is the beginning of much more.

But I believe we have a high enough level of golf. And a high enough level of competition to earn world ranking points.