Rahm tapped in for birdie on his final hole on Saturday, the par-5 third at Bolingbrook Golf Course, to lead Sergio Garcia (65) by one shot as he approaches the season points title.
Rahm and Joaquin Niemann of Chile are the only players who can win the points title and the $US18 million ($A27 million) bonus. Niemann birdied his last two holes to salvage a 68 and was three shots behind Rahm going into the third and final round.
"The goal is to win. If I do that, the rest takes care of itself," Rahm, who sits at seven under, said.
"I felt like I did everything I needed to do right, committed to the shots that I needed to, and then executed really, really well.
"Didn't miss a lot of fairways. That's a great key around here. Yeah, I think it wasn't until 1, which was my 16th, the only fairway I had missed was 14, and it was barely in the first cut."
Rahmbo is closing in on the Individual Championship 👀— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) He gets to 6-under to join fellow Spaniard @TheSergioGarcia at the top 📈#LIVGolf @LegionXIIIgc pic.twitter.com/nIBu6PJcqxSeptember 14, 2024
American Brooks Koepka, who opened with a 62 to build a four-shot lead after 18 holes, had six bogeys and had to make a 20-foot birdie putt on the last hole for a 73. He still was two shots behind.
Poland's Adrian Meronk (65), Great Britain's Ian Poulter (68) and Niemann (68) are three back in a tie for fourth.
Lucas Herbert (69) is joint-seventh at three under while fellow Australians Matt Jones (70) sits at three over, Marc Leishman (70) four over and Cameron Smith (73) six over.
Crushers led by four shots in the team competition after Friday but are tied with Cleeks at 10 under through two rounds. Fireballs, led by Garcia, are four back at six under.
This is the final LIV event that offers a $US4 million ($A6 million) prize for the individual winner. The third season of the Saudi-funded league wraps up with the team championship next week.
With AAP & Reuters.
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