Tyrrell Hatton has followed Jon Rahm to LIV Golf in a deal worth £50million in a major blow to the PGA Tour, with merger talks continuing with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund
It has been reported that following a private phone conversation with Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton made a stunning U-turn and signed a £50 million contract with LIV Golf.
Following Rahm’s £450 million transfer in December, Hatton is the most recent member of the victorious European Ryder Cup team to leave the team. Although Hatton had been linked to a move for a while, it’s thought that he turned down the breakaway circuit’s initial offer, which was funded by Saudi Arabia.
The British player is rumored to have worried about his eligibility for the Ryder Cup in 2025 because, following his debut with LIV, he will probably face a ban and fine from the DP World Tour. However, the Telegraph claims that after he spoke with Rahm in recent weeks, those worries were dispelled.
This week, when the season kicks off in Mayakoba, Mexico, Hatton is anticipated to make his debut as a member of Rahm’s recently established Legion XIII squad. He had withdrawn from this week’s Pebble Beach Pro/Am, despite having originally declared.
The 16th-ranked player in the world joins the ranks of Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood as the highest-rated British defector. The Telegraph claims that prior to agreeing to a contract that will instantly double his career earnings, Hatton was considering his options regarding the Ryder Cup and his eligibility for Major championships.
With no chance of earning any OWGR points for the upcoming year, Hatton may have to qualify for the US and British Open championships, and he may not be allowed to play in the Masters at all. As it stands, Hatton’s path back to golf’s four majors is uncertain.
Hatton’s departure occurs in the midst of intense talks between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund to finalize a merger agreement that will see the best players in the world compete under a single, new banner.
Since the framework was agreed upon last summer, Jay Monaghan, the commissioner of the Tour, has reportedly been in talks with Saudi officials, and a deal is reportedly close. Hatton, though, will likely have to contend with the prospect of being eliminated from the world rankings until then, which will make it difficult for him to advance to the majors, including the Masters, the following year.
Rahm is automatically qualified through 2027 after winning at Augusta last year, so his chances of being eliminated are very slim.
The loss of Hatton will be devastating for both the PGA Tour and his friend Rory McIlroy, who had fun playing with him at the Ryder Cup last year at Marco Simone. With more players defecting than ever before, there is more pressure than ever on the Tour to reach a deal with the PIF.
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