Jon Rahm's caddie admits 'it's been a tough year' after taking home huge cheque

Jon Rahm's caddie Adam Hayes says the Spaniard has had a "tough year for a lot of different reasons" after clinching the $18 million LIV Golf Individual Championship on Sunday.

Rahm held the advantage over nearest rival Joaquin Niemann at the start of the season finale at Bolingbrook Golf Club in Illinois, and made sure of his victory with a stellar performance over the weekend to win the event by three shots.

Niemann has crept ahead of Rahm in the standings after Friday's opening round, but the two-time major champion turned in cards of 64 and 66 on Saturday and Sunday respectively to finish three clear of Niemann at 11-under-par.

The result saw Rahm not only win the $4m prize for winning the LIV Golf Chicago event but also confirm his status as the breakaway tour's season-long champion in his debut campaign.

Rahm was heavily criticized when he turned his back on the PGA Tour and signed a $500m deal with Saudi Arabia-funded LIV in December, but his play on the course has been superb – claiming two wins and finishing in the top 10 in each of the 12 events he completed.

Florida native Hayes, who has worked with Rahm since 2016, is set to bank a huge payday from his boss' victories, with caddies typically receiving a 5-10 percent cut of their players' winnings. The looper admits the criticism Rahm faced did have an impact on his play, but he put it to the back of his mind as he won two of the final three events to surge to the top of the Individual Championship standings.

"This year we had a lot of different expectations and stuff," Hayes said. "You know, it's hard to not listen to the people. So you have those expectations and it's been a tough year for a lot of different reasons."

Hayes added Rahm struggled early in the season due to being hellbent on proving his critics wrong, but he says the tournament in Valderrama – where Rahm finished in a tie for 10th, his worst result of the LIV season – in July was the turning point. Hayes says at that moment, Rahm "started playing for himself."

Rahm referenced his wife Kelly Cahill's difficult pregnancy numerous times throughout the summer as the couple awaits their third child later this year, with the mother experiencing complications and health issues. He says his loved ones back home in Arizona were at the forefront of his mind throughout the season.

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And after a challenging year on and off the course – with relatively poor performances at the majors paling into insignificance when considering his concern for his wife and unborn child – Sunday's triumph was sweet for the 29-year-old.

"I wouldn't say it exceeded my expectations, but it definitely met what I expected," Rahm said. "It was definitely a stressful day, but that pressure is a privilege.

"Just being able to culminate all the good golf all season, and especially doing it by winning individually I think is what makes it so much more special. Knowing that I had to win and getting it done is something to really be proud of and something to reflect on."