Jon Rahm’s claim about why he joined LIV Golf after making his debut with the breakaway tour sparked a furious debate on social media.
According to the Spaniard, Jon Rahm’s LIV Golf debut in Mayakoba ended with conflicting feelings.
At Greg Norman’s El Camaleón, the defending Masters champion was vying for his first victory on the breakaway circuit.
However, the 29-year-old made two careless mistakes in the final stages that ended his challenge before Joaquin Niemann won in a playoff.
Rahm had cause for celebration because his Legion XIII had won the team element.
With the win, Rahm, Kieran Vincent, Caleb Surratt, and Tyrrell Hatton of England shared a $3 million bonus.
But Rahm’s remarks following the $25 million tournament’s conclusion have drawn the attention of golf enthusiasts.
“It feels amazing,” Rahm remarked. “It’s quite pleasant; on a day when I would have likely been disappointed with my result in a typical tournament.
“Actually having something to be happy about is a major factor in my decision to transition.
“The main goal is to compete for something else while sharing the stage with those three guys and the golf course with all the other teams.”
X users quickly reminded Rahm that he most likely had a single reason for traveling to LIV Golf in December of last year.
One X user referred to Rahm as a “fool,” saying, “My thoughts are that I can’t imagine him saying anything different.”
“It’s another matter entirely whether he believes it or not.”
Another stated: “It’s disheartening to witness Rahm so lowly. He’s just a clown now, but he could have been one of the greatest of all time.”
On December 8, 2024, Rahm formally signed with the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf.
Based on an upfront “bonus” and his 25% ownership in Legion XIII, the contract he drafted is estimated to be worth around £450 million.
He joined a group of players who had earlier declared themselves not interested in joining the breakaway.
Rahm made numerous attempts to justify his U-turn. He said that the move was “best for me and my family” above all else.
He declared publicly that he wished to compete on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour whenever feasible.
Rahm acknowledged that his Ryder Cup future may be impacted by his LIV move.
All that Jon Rahm stated regarding LIV Golf
February 2022
“I am formally pledging my allegiance to the PGA Tour at this point, which is the only time I will discuss it. I firmly believe that the product they will provide for us in the future is excellent. On the PGA Tour, there’s much more to play for than just cash. History exists. A legacy exists.”
June 2022
“I’ll be honest; I don’t find a lot of the [LIV] format to be particularly appealing. I don’t see shotgun three days as a golf tournament—no cut. It really is that easy. I want to compete in a format that has been around for hundreds of years against the best players in the world. I would like to see that.”
June 2022
“If I win $400 million, will my wife Kelley Cahill and I live a different lifestyle? No, not in the slightest.
To be honest, with the money I’ve earned, I could retire right now, lead a happy life, and never play golf again.”
I’ve never really played golf for financial gain, so to speak. “My heart belongs on the PGA Tour,” All I can say is that.”
December 2022
“If you play good you’re going to end up making money. It’s not why I started playing, it’s not the reason I play. Money is not really on my mind.
“If it was, I probably might have gone to LIV, right? If money is your goal, that’s clearly the path to go down. Every decision I make is to become the best player I can become.”
July 2023
“Phil Mickelson has informed me that I don’t need to attend LIV. And he’s said that to me multiple times. When someone gossips about me using LIV, I chuckle. The format has never appealed to me.”
July 2023
“I just decided to stick with the PGA Tour because I believe it to be the best option for my game and for myself.”
I already have a very lucrative career doing what I do. I’m really appreciative, and the PGA Tour gave me the platform to make it all happen.”
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