Jon Rahm third at opening LIV event in Mexico as lights needed for playoff won by Joaquin Niemann

LIV’s $400m recruit made a massive first-up impact as the opening event finished in darkness, lit only by the 18th hole scoreboard.

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 04: Kieran Vincent, Captain Jon Rahm, Caleb Surratt and Tyrrell Hatton of Legion XIII celebrate with the trophy after winning the team competition during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational - Mayakoba at El Camaleon at Mayakoba on February 04, 2024 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)

A lost ball off the tee on the second-last hole of his first LIV event cost Jon Rahm another $7m payday to go with his nine-figure sign-on fee as the Saudi-backed tour’s biggest signing fell just short of victory in the season-opening event in Mexico.

Instead, reigning Australian Open champion Joaquin Niemann took down Sergio Garcia on the fourth hole of a playoff in early-evening darkness, with the duo needing the light from the big screen next to the 18th hole to illuminate the course as they fought to secure the $6m winner’s cheque.

Despite his late error, Rahm’s new Legion XIII team still cruised to the opening team victory of the season, with all four final-round scores counting towards the total for the first time, giving him a share of the $4.6m team prize.

Joaquin Niemann celebrates in darkness at Mayakoba (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)

LIV boss Greg Norman copped criticism for failing to get “even close” to the number of players he spruiked would join the rebel league.

But Rahm’s immediate impact, coming from behind on the final day to nearly seize victory and missing the playoff by a single shot, was telling, with large crowds at Mayakoba following the Masters champion.

“You compete to win, if you’re not competing to win, you don’t compete,” Rahm said, rebuffing any suggestion the no-cut, guaranteed prizemoney events, plus his massive sign-on fee, reported to be as much as $400m, would impact his drive for success.

“I’m very disappointed in myself, it’s a tough pill to swallow, but I’m very proud of my team.

“I wouldn’t say we’re ahead of schedule. The goal it to win. I’d like to think everybody in this interview right now, anytime they tee it up, they want to win. That’s the whole point of being here.

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 04: Kieran Vincent, Captain Jon Rahm, Caleb Surratt and Tyrrell Hatton of Legion XIII celebrate with the trophy after winning the team competition during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational - Mayakoba at El Camaleon at Mayakoba on February 04, 2024 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)

“This team was just assembled Monday, and we came in and made an impact. The team aspect definitely helped me rally.”

The team win also ensured amateur star Caleb Surratt collected $1.1m as his share of the purse in his first profressional event.

After Australian star Cameron Smith birdied seven of his opening 10 holes in the final round, teammate Lucas Herbert’s shift to LIV looked set to earn him an immediate bump.

The all-Aussie Ripper GC was second on the team standings for much of the final day, staring at a $2.3m split between Smith, Herbert, Marc Leishman and Matt Jones.

But Smith couldn’t find another birdie after his opening surge, instead carding two bogeys, finishing in a tie for eighth on the individual standings, and Ripper GC fell just out of the prize money, awarded only to the top three teams.

Sunday fist pumps from Lucas Herbert 👊

Love to see it.#RipperGC#LIVGolfpic.twitter.com/vN8j49NQkx

— Ripper GC (@rippergc_) February 4, 2024

Herbert finished in a tie for 21st on his LIV debut, still enough to earn a six-figure payday, with the players headed to Las Vegas this week for the second event of the season.