Jon Rahm, current champion of Augusta Masters and number three in the world ranking, has accepted the multimillion-dollar offer ofl LIV Golf and has joined the golf circuit that was born in 2022, driven from Saudi Arabia, news that shakes the foundations of this sport. The agreement, already made official by the golfer himself, will mean a contract of around 550 million euros for the player of Barrika (Bizkaia) that will leave the circuit of the American PGA and the DP World Tour (European circuit) to join the competition born two years ago that generated a war on the ‘greens’. The contract of Rahm It will be the largest in the history of world sport.
I am proud to join @livgolf_league 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 I am very excited for the future. pic.twitter.com/myf4isJgJ3
— Jon Rahm Rodriguez (@JonRahmpga) December 7, 2023
In February 2022, Jon Rahm officially declared his “loyalty to the PGA Tour.” This intervention occurred with the start of the golf circuit promoted by the Saudi sheikhs, which has bathed circuit players in petrodollars who did take the step and moved to the LIV, like the Spaniards. Sergio García, Eugenio Chacarra and David Puig, who have already made the leap to Super League. Then Rahm rejected a first offer of 400 million.
The posture of Rahm has taken, since that day, a radical turnaround. After multiple rumors in recent days, the newspaper The Telegraph reported that the Saudis had offered a contract bonus to the Basque of around 550 million euros to incorporate him into their circuit until 2029. And the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) went further and considered the agreement closed, confirmed last morning. The departure of Rahm of the American circuit will be a very hard blow for the PGA Tour.
Fusion process
The finally irrefutable offer he received Rahm of the circuit that finances the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) came at a key time for the golf world as the two leagues are in the midst of a controversial merger process. Although there are figures from the latter who are still at war against the Saudis such as Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy.
Rahm He became the most desired player by the Saudi magnates, although not the only one. But his decision responds not only to economic reasons. Also to his discomfort with the leaders of the PGA Tour such as the commissioner Jay Monahanafter both the Basque player and Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods stood up for the American circuit in the golf war and the PGA Tour, without prior consultation, announced last June the merger agreement with the LIV.
The Basque already spoke about the financial issue and the possibility of joining the LIV. «I have never played golf for economic reasons. I play for the love of golf and I want to compete against the best in the world. I’ve always been interested in history and legacy, and that’s what the PGA has. There is a meaning when you win the Memorial, the Arnold Palmer, in Los Angeles or Torrey Pines. My heart goes out to the PGA Tour. “That’s all I can say,” she warned in another reflection.
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The merger pact between the PGA Tour and the LIV will allow it to continue competing in the four major Grand Slam events (Augusta Masters, US Open, PGA Championship and British Open). It remains to be determined whether LIV players will be able to compete in the Ryder Cup.
In the so-called Super League, Rahm He also has friends like the American Phil Mickelsoneither Sergio Garcia, a reference for him. Precisely Steve Loy agent of Rahm and of Phil Mickelson, who has played at LIV Golf since the inauguration of the circuit, negotiated with the Saudis for weeks to close a historic agreement.