Michael Kim just delivered one of the most ruthless reality checks Jon Rahm has faced since joining LIV Golf. With Rahm’s OWGR ranking collapsing week after week, Kim’s viral comment has the entire golf world buzzing. Is Rahm still a top-tier talent trapped in a broken system, or is this the beginning of a shocking downfall? Dive into the full story behind Rahm’s dramatic ranking freefall, LIV’s desperate push for OWGR approval, and why Kim’s jab hit so hard.
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Michael Kim delivers a brutal reality check to John Rum amid his golf hiatus when John Rum defected to LIIV Golf. He sat comfortably at number three in the official World Golf Ranking, backed by a reported $500 million contract and crowned the individual LIIV champion for the second straight year. Rum appeared untouchable. Yet, the numbers tell a different story. With no OWGR points awarded for LIIV events, Rahm’s ranking has been in freefall, a trend shared by several LIIV stars. And now, Michael Kim has added a sharp unfiltered twist to the ongoing OWGR debate. Michael Kim’s viral dig at Rom off the DP World Tour Championship. Kim held a fan Q&A session on X. When one fan asked him to name the most underrated golfer outside the top 50, Kim didn’t hesitate. His answer, John Rom, lol. The humorous jab zeroed in on Rahm’s plummeting OGR position. Despite the Spaniard still playing worldclass golf whenever he competes outside the LIIV sphere, Kim himself wrapped the season with rounds of 64-76-71-69 to finish T-24 in Dubai where Matt Fitzpatrick edged out Rory Mroy in a playoff to claim the title. Rahm’s ranking collapse. Not a talent issam remains one of the most formidable talents in golf in limited owl eligible events this year. He delivered solid performances. T14 Masters T8 PGA Championship T7 US Open T34 Open Championship T9 Spanish Open T13 BMW PGA Championship aside from a lone stinker at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic T87. His play has been strong. But strong doesn’t matter when no points are being earned at LIIV tournaments. From world number one in 2020, back down to number three when he joined LIV to 74th in 2025. Rom’s ranking has no dived. Even small gains slip away the moment he stops playing. With Rom on break now, each passing week sees others leaprog him. Add to that his ongoing refusal to pay DP World Tour fines, which could strain his eligibility further, and the path back to the top looks steeper than ever in a wonder Michael Kim found it so easy to label run the most underrated golfer outside the top 50 LIV second shot at OGR status. But there may be hope on the horizon. LIIV Golf first applied for OGR eligibility in October 2023 and was firmly denied at the time. Then chairman Peter Dawson acknowledged the players talent but stood by the decision citing LIIV’s format as incompatible with fair global rankings. This time LIIV has recalibrated under new CEO Scott O’Neal. The league made sweeping changes. Heavy check mark shifted from 54 to 72 Jose. A direct response to OGR’s biggest concern. Heavy check mark expanded tournament access instead of a single entry via the Asian swing. Alivi now allocates two spots each to the Asian swing and its promoted event broadening global inclusion. Heavy check mark positive player reception stars like Rom Bryson Dshambo and Dustin Johnson welcome the changes seeing them as critical steps toward restoring legitimacy. If the application is approved, Elivi golfers will finally earn OWGR points again, allowing elite players like Rahm, Tierel Hatton, Dashambo, and others to climb back to rankings that reflect their skill, not their tour affiliation.
