Jon Rahm has become the latest big name to sign on the dotted line with LIV Golf, but his previous comments suggest he has not always been on board with the breakaway league
Jon Rahm has been left eating his words, after the Spanish star made a u-turn on his LIV Golf stance to sign a record-breaking deal with the breakaway circuit.
Rahm has decided to switch to LIV, and according to multiple reports, the Masters champion will receive a whopping £450 million for agreeing to a deal with Greg Norman and company. Rahm is one of the very few players who has maintained a relatively neutral stance throughout the conflict between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
Even so, the green jacket winner’s decision to transfer to Saudi Arabia still comes as a surprise because he had previously stated he was not interested in the lucrative financial offers from the rebel league.
Speaking at the 2022 U.S. Open, Rahm said: “Money is great, but when [wife] Kelley and I… this first thing happened, we started talking about it, and we’re like, will our lifestyle change if I got $400 million? No, it will not change one bit. Truth be told, I could retire right now with what I’ve made and live a very happy life and not 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.”
After a year and a half, the two-time major champion has undoubtedly changed his mind due to the enormous sum of money that is being offered.
After being reminded of his earlier remarks, Rahm tried to justify his U-turn in an interview with FOX News after confirming his decision. As previously stated, he expressed his attraction at the company’s growth and its potential to have a significant global impact on golf.
“Despite all of the positive aspects of this movement, imperfections will always exist. I am able to live with that. It’s a machine that never stops expanding and changing. I’m hoping that LIV Golf’s executives will take my counsel to heart and implement some improvements that will benefit the game going forward.
Rahm acknowledged that he would “laugh” whenever his name was connected to the breakaway circuit as recently as August. The Masters champion said earlier this year on the Golf Sin Etiquetas podcast, “I laugh when people rumor me with LIV Golf.” “The format was never my favorite.”
Rahm even asserted that he was advised to stay on the PGA Tour and not join LIV Golf by his close friend and LIV supporter, Phil Mickelson. “In the practice rounds of majors, I always have a good time with Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia,” he continued.
“I respect Phil [Mickelson’s] choice, and he respects mine. Mickelson has repeatedly told me that there is no reason for me to travel to play for LIV. Rahm will now reunite with Mickelson and Garcia for 2024, in spite of his earlier remarks.
With LIV returning to Mayakoba, Mexico, for their season opener, the Spaniard is expected to make his breakaway circuit debut at the start of February. He will also have the opportunity to compete in front of home supporters in 2024, when the breakaway league returns to the storied Valderrama course in Spain for the second year in a row.
Leave a Reply