Washington (AFP) – Two-time major winner Jon Rahm withdrew from the LIV Golf Team Championship on Saturday with severe flu symptoms, with American John Catlin replacing the Legion XIII captain in the event. Rahm, the LIV Golf individual season champion after joining the Saudi-backed upstart series last December, had his second-seeded squad in the semi-finals against Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers.
“Jon has been experiencing severe flu symptoms the last few days,” his team posted on X. “In the best interest of his team and under the advice of his medical team, he will not be playing this weekend.” Catlin, from LIV’s reserve fill-in player pool, replaced Rahm in a singles semi-final match against compatriot Cameron Tringale of HyFlyers at Maridoe Golf Club in suburban Dallas.
Rahm, a 29-year-old Spaniard, won last week at Chicago to secure the overall LIV player crown. The 2021 PGA Player of the Year captured major titles at the 2021 US Open and 2023 Masters. Catlin won Asian Tour events at Macau and Riyadh earlier this year and made five pinch-hit appearances in LIV events during the 2024 campaign.
© 2024 AFP
