There has arguably been no signing from LIV Golf which has threatened to shift the balance of power in the game quite like the deal to take Jon Rahm away from the PGA Tour in 2023.
LIV Golf caused a huge stir ahead of their first ever event with the raft of names they managed to sign. And for some time, the speculation over who may end up joining the league dominated plenty of PGA Tour events.
Much of the speculation came to nothing. But every so often, a big name would be linked with a move, and the hints would start to become too frequent to be dismissed.
Jon Rahm made the decision to withdraw from TGL ahead of what was set to be its inaugural season in 2024. Meanwhile, it felt ominous when he was not named in any of the fields for the first handful of PGA Tour events.
The two reasons Jon Rahm gave for not liking LIV Golf in 2023
Rahm would indeed have his move to LIV Golf announced in December 2023.
The Spaniard had never gone as far as Rory McIlroy in criticising the league. However, he had pledged his allegiance to the PGA Tour with an emphatic statement in February 2022.
Clearly, views can change. A number of players have had to explain previous comments that they have made. But there was something interesting about the way Rahm explained his reasons for not being tempted by LIV.
Speaking on the Fore Play Podcast in February 2023, Rahm explained what he did not like about LIV, as he also opened up on his relationships with Phil Mickelson and Pat Perez following their switches.
“It’s not my place to judge what anybody else does. They’re full grown adults, they can make a decision for themselves. I can agree with it, but it’s not going to change how I operate with my friends. Do I agree with everything that Phil said? No, and I’ve told him that. We’ve talked about it and we’ve had our discussions. He tells me what he thinks the PGA Tour’s done wrong, and I tell him what I think they’ve done wrong, and that’s a very adult discussion. We don’t have to agree,” he said.
“Another great friend of mine, mainly because it’s really funny to hear him go off is Pat Perez. And he tells me a side, and I told him. He was honest though. He was always kind of against LIV and then the opportunity came and he said, ‘I’m gone’. I’m like, ‘okay, good, fully understand’. I fully understand why a lot of people have gone. So I don’t judge it.
“It is what it is. And I’ve also expressed why I don’t like LIV for now. I just don’t like the format, I don’t like a bit of what they stand for – for now. But it could grow into something interesting. I do believe there is a way of coexistence in the future. I don’t think you can play both sides obviously, but I think there is a way to co-exist and have both tours.”
Rahm criticised for claim he made once he joined LIV Golf
In fairness to Rahm, when he did join LIV, he did not have to do quite as much backtracking as some others. While he was strong in committing to the PGA Tour, he rarely criticised LIV.
But obviously, it is not the best look to criticise LIV’s format. The league has made minor tweaks over the years, but the format has largely remained the same since the start of the 2023 season.
You could definitely understand Rahm’s reservations previously. It could certainly be argued that LIV’s format is too muddled, with the individual and team events running alongside each other at the same time.
But clearly, money talks. Rahm was criticised for claiming that he joined to grow the game by Rick Shiels – who himself would subsequently sign with LIV as an ambassador ahead of the 2025 season.
Meanwhile, his comments about the tours coexisting seem particularly interesting right now as the PGA Tour and the PIF look to agree a deal which brings the sport back together.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
