Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau Headline High-Stakes LIV Golf Individual Championship Race in New York

LIV Golf returns to the United States this week for the 11th tournament of the 2026 campaign, setting up camp at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey. With just two regular-season events remaining on the schedule, the stakes have escalated dramatically for both the Individual and Team Championships.[1][2][4]

The primary focus in New York is the tightening race for the season-long Individual Championship. Jon Rahm, captain of Legion XIII, continues to hold the top spot in the standings as he chases his third consecutive individual title. However, his once-comfortable advantage is suddenly under threat as the season nears its climax.[1][3][4]

Bryson DeChambeau of Crushers GC has emerged as Rahm's primary challenger. Following a strong performance at LIV Golf United Kingdom, DeChambeau shaved more than 100 points off Rahm's lead, setting up a high-stakes showdown in New Jersey where every stroke could alter the championship picture.[1][3][5]

Rahm arrives at Bedminster looking to rebound from a rare stumble. In the UK, the Spanish star finished tied for 23rd—the first time in 35 completed LIV Golf regular-season tournaments that he finished outside the top 20. That uncharacteristic blip has opened the door for DeChambeau and injected fresh drama into the season's closing stretch.[1][3]

The battleground itself will thoroughly test both contenders. Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, a Tom Fazio design, measures a daunting 7,651 yards, making it the second-longest course on the 2026 LIV calendar. The layout places a premium on elite tee-to-green ball striking and a precise short game to navigate its firm Bentgrass greens.[3]

While Rahm and DeChambeau headline the individual race, the team competition is equally compelling. The all-Australian Ripper GC squad enters New York as the hottest team in the league. They recently swept the individual and team trophies in the UK, where Lucas Herbert shot a record-setting 30-under-par for a wire-to-wire victory.[1][2][3]

Ripper GC captain Cameron Smith also has a history of dominance at Bedminster. When the league last visited the venue in 2023, Smith secured the individual title by a massive seven-stroke margin—the largest in LIV Golf history. With three team victories already this season, Ripper GC has closed the gap on points leader 4Aces GC to less than three points.[1][3]

Other international storylines are playing out further down the leaderboard. The all-South African Southern Guards GC, captained by Charl Schwartzel in the continued absence of the injured Louis Oosthuizen, currently sit seventh in the team standings. Dean Burmester leads the South African contingent individually, holding 13th place in the season-long race.[5]

The New York event marks LIV Golf's return to the tri-state area after a two-year hiatus, bringing its signature festival atmosphere and shotgun-start format to a major sports market. With the season rapidly approaching its climax, every shot at Bedminster carries amplified weight for players fighting for championship bonuses and those battling to secure their status for next year.[2][4][6]