The whispers in the golf world are now a shocking reality with Jon Rahm confirming on Friday that he has left the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf.
The world No.3 and reigning Masters champion made the news official on America’s Fox News, thus ending long-running speculation that he was defecting to the Saudi-backed circuit.
“This is me finally saying that after all the rumours, some of them were true, and I’ve officially joined LIV Golf,” Rahm told the network.
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The move was also confirmed in a LIV statement, which included LIV chief Greg Norman’s glowing endorsement of the two-time major-winner.
“When I first met Jon at the age of 17, I knew then that the golfing world was about to witness the birth of a new star. Jon has consistently validated that he is one of the top players in the world. He’s a generational talent who has proven his merit as a multiple major champion and tremendous ambassador for global golf by placing the game ahead of himself,” Norman said.
“There are very few athletes with his pedigree of talent, leadership, poise, and commitment to bringing progress to the sport on a worldwide stage. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Jon to the LIV Golf family as the league continues preparations for a huge 2024 and beyond.”
Rahm added: “I am proud to join LIV Golf and be part of something new that is bringing growth to the sport.
“I have no doubt that this is a great opportunity for me and my family and am very excited for the future.”
Previous reports on Rahm’s defection have noted the deal would pay the reigning Masters champ somewhere in the range of $600 million (A$907m).
Neither Rahm or the LIV statement confirmed how much money he would be making at LIV.
Details on what team he will be joining will be announced at a later date, LIV said.
Rahm’s confirmed move represents a seismic shift in the golf world as he instantly becomes the face of the rebel league.
It comes as PGA Tour head Jay Monahan is planning to meet with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which would further entwine the PGA with LIV Golf, which is also funded by PIF.
The two sides have until a Dec. 31 deadline to complete negotiations after a framework agreement was stunningly announced in June. It is possible, though, that the deadline is pushed into the new year.
Signs of Rahm’s departure have been popping up for weeks.
First, the 29-year-old pulled out of TGL, the technology-driven golf league being run by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy that is partnered with the PGA Tour.
Then, golf reporter Alan Shipnuck claimed that Phil Mickelson — who is a close friend of Rahm’s and shares an agent with him — had been telling people that Rahm coming to LIV Golf was a “done deal.”
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And this week, Rahm was not in the field for The American Express tournament, which he won last year.
There was still reason to be sceptical as Rahm had remained publicly and steadfastly committed to the PGA Tour.
“I’ve never really played the game of golf for monetary reasons. I play for the love of the game, and I want to play against the best in the world …” Rahm said at last year’s U.S. Open. “I have always been interested in history and legacy, and right now the PGA Tour has that. There’s a meaning when you win the Memorial Championship. There’s a meaning when you win Arnold Palmer’s event at Bay Hill. There’s a meaning when you win L.A., Torrey, some of these historic venues. That to me matters a lot.
“After winning this past U.S. Open, only me and Tiger (Woods) have won at Torrey Pines. Making putts on 18—that’s a memory that I’m gonna have forever that not many people can say. My heart is with the PGA Tour. That’s all I can say. It’s not my business or my character to judge anybody who thinks otherwise. And for a lot of people, I’m not gonna lie, those next three, four years are worth, basically, their retirement plan. It’s a very nice compensation until they retire and sail off into the sunset.”
Rahm will, however, sail his life in a different direction.
LIV Golf does not lack star power with Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Cam Smith and Bryson DeChambeau among the players who have previously defected for deals reported to be in the $100 million range.
However, it has had a difficult time garnering an audience.
LIV was broadcast on YouTube in its inaugural season and had minuscule ratings in Year 2 on the CW.
How a PGA-LIV merger changes the future of both tours remains to be seen — if it even comes to fruition.
But, for now, one of the biggest players in the sport is switching sides.
This story originally appeared on the New York Post and has been reposted with permission
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