Jon Rahm had previously stated he had no plans to join LIV Golf before signing on the dotted line with the breakaway league, but the Spaniard is not the only one to go back on his word
Jon Rahm has become the latest PGA Tour star to make the move to LIV Golf, after previously stating he had no plans on signing with the breakaway league.
Rahm became the LIV setup’s biggest coup yet, after his Saudi switch was finally confirmed last week. Reports have suggested the Masters champion has been handed a record-breaking £450million deal to leave the PGA Tour and join Greg Norman and co.
Despite having stayed relatively neutral during the Tour’s lengthy feud with the breakaway league, his decision to make the move did come as a surprise having previously admitted he would not be lured in by the mega-money offers.
Of course Rahm is not the first LIV Golf star to initially rule out his chances of leaving the Tour, and here is a look at who also opted to go back on their word and team up with the breakaway league.
Jon Rahm
Who better to begin than Rahm, the man of the moment? When discussing his decision to defect late last week, the defending Masters champion acknowledged that the large offer made by LIV executives was a major factor.
Despite acknowledging at the U.S. Open of last year that he had no interest in a multi-million pound deal, it turned out to be quite the mental shift. “While money is great, my wife Kelley and I started discussing whether our lifestyle would change if I won $400 million after this first incident. No, it won’t alter in the slightest, Rahm declared in the summer.
“To be honest, with the money I’ve earned, I could retire right now, lead a happy life, and never play golf again. I haven’t actually played golf for financial gain before. I want to compete against the greatest players in the world because I play for the love of the game. I’ve always been drawn to legacy and history, and the PGA Tour currently possesses both.”
Not only that, but the Spaniard acknowledged to Golf Sin Etiquetas in August that he disliked the 54-hole, no-cut format and would “laugh” whenever his name was mentioned in relation to the breakaway league. But after two major championships, the player has obviously had a change of heart after four months.
Brooks Koepka
But Brooks Koepka, another famous player, changed his attitude before moving last summer, so Rahm is not the only one. After pledging his allegiance to the PGA Tour in February 2022, Koepka was talking about how the recently proposed Saudi golf league might be able to draw players from the American circuit.
The five-time major winner said, “Everyone talks about money.” “Enough is enough for them. I don’t see them giving up; they can just keep going and figure it out. Their men will come through. Someone will attend it after selling out.”
Naturally, that individual went on to become Koepka, who received an offer exceeding £80 million to relocate to Saudi Arabia the previous year. After that, the American celebrity admitted, “Opinions change, that was it,” as to why he chose to renounce his earlier statement.
Bryson DeChambeau
Along with former PGA Tour rival Bryson DeChambeau, Koepka joined LIV Golf. DeChambeau initially downplayed his chances of signing with Norman. Speaking in February 2022, DeChambeau disregarded a transfer to the Saudi-backed league, echoing the opinions of several other PGA Tour players.
“While there has been a lot of speculation surrounding my support for another tour, I want to be very clear that I will continue to play on the PGA Tour as long as the world’s best players do,” he stated. Naturally, a number of his teammates made the decision to quit the PGA Tour, and DeChambeau did the same.
Dustin Johnson
The former world number one Dustin Johnson followed the same strategy as DeChambeau. Johnson is another well-known player on the PGA Tour. Following Phil Mickelson’s controversial support of the Saudi golf league, Johnson committed his future, along with several other Tour players, to the top circuit in the sport.
“I think it’s time to stop speculating about this. I’m totally dedicated to the PGA Tour,” Johnson said over the winter. “I am appreciative of everything this tour has given my family and me, including the chance to perform on the greatest tour in the world.”
However, a few months later, the former Masters victor received one of LIV’s most generous offers, which was too good to decline. Speaking about his decision to join LIV on Netflix’s “Full Swing,” he acknowledged: “It all came down to the offer they made me.” For me, it was as simple as playing less and earning more money.
Paul Casey
Englishman Paul Casey was among those drawn to Saudi Arabia’s wealth, even though he had earlier declared he would be a “hypocrite” if he accepted a salary from the Middle Eastern nation. In an interview with The Independent from 2019, Casey stated: “I would be a hypocrite if I signed a deal and got paid to be down there.
“Anyone who claims that politics has no place in sport is lying. I’m happy I made a stand, especially if it brought attention to the problems in the area. Four years ago, he made these remarks ahead of the Middle Eastern swing of the DP World Tour.
Joaquin Niemann
With his ascent to prominence on the PGA Tour, Joaquin Niemann has emerged as one of golf’s most exciting prospects, making him an excellent fit for the LIV setup. LIV executives rewarded Niemann’s switch when the Chilean was named the youngest captain of the breakaway league after taking over at Torque GC.
However, based on his earlier remarks, it doesn’t seem that a transfer to the LIV league was always his intention. He stated, “Nothing to tell from me [on LIV Golf]” during the U.S. Open in 2022. “I want to beat every one of these guys as best I can. They’re still here, and I’m not leaving for as long as they are [PGA Tour]. Not a chance.
Harold Varner III
Harold Varner III has shown his admiration for NBA legend Michael Jordan by competing on the golf course while sporting the recognizable Jordan brand. Speaking last year, the former PGA Tour player acknowledged that the Chicago Bulls legend’s influence played a role in his initial decision to swerve LIV Golf.
“It’s beneficial because I’m confident that Jordan made decisions similar to these before I was even born,” he asserted. “I will not be attending [LIV Golf], obviously. I’ve had conversations with many influential people, including Jay [Monahan], and I just didn’t think it was worth the time or money.”
But soon after, Varner chose to join forces with the league supported by Saudi Arabia. The American declared, “The opportunity to join LIV Golf is simply too good of a financial breakthrough for me to pass up,” following his u-turn.
Leave a Reply