Having signed with Greg Norman‘s league, Jon Rahm has been in the spotlight for some time. Spaniard is rumored to accept a $450-$600m contractual deal to make this decision. However, is money the major factor the golfer switched to LIV Golf?
It will not be a lie to say LIV Golf equals money. While the pros name more time with family, change in viewpoint, the team aspect, etc. as the major reasons to jump to the Saudi-backed league, everyone knows money is also a big factor for them to defect from their respective Tours.
Hours after officially signing his LIV contract, the Spanish golfer joined the Pat McAfee Show, in which he discussed how he got to be in talk with the LIV officials and how he concluded the deal. “Listen, obviously, the money is very, very nice,” he told the hosts of the Show.
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“But but as a father, as a husband, as a family, man,” he added, “I do owe it to my family to set them up the best I can.” According to him, LIV Golf provides such a “possibility.” Rahm further added, “So yeah, that was a big part of it.”
"The landscape of golf is ever changing and I thought it was good timing to join LIV Golf..
I'm not gonna duck the question and I'll say it.. obviously the money is very nice..
I'm not gonna comment on the numbers" 😂@JonRahmpga #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/zu0UVm2PnR
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 8, 2023
Unlike many pros who have joined the league before him, Rahm didn’t hesitate to spill how money influenced his decision. However, he made sure not to reveal the actual deal.
Jon Rahm is not against the LIV Golf format like he used to
Professionals who stayed with the PGA Tour till now have always shown their detest towards the 54-hole-shotgun-no-cut format LIV Golf offers. Jon Rahm followed this ideology as well. He even took it to an extreme and called the league “not a golf tournament.” Yet, once he signed the contract, it changed.
Read More: Top 3 Things to Expect After Jon Rahm’s LIV Golf Defection
While he still hasn’t entirely approved the format, the golfer has learned to compromise. In LIV Golf’s own ‘Fairway To Heaven’ podcast, Rahm confirmed this. He explained that he could overlook the format, considering the other good things the breakaway circuit offers.
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He also pointed out that the 54-hole format is not an unfamiliar scenario for him as it reminds the Masters champion of his college days, where he used to play 3-day tournaments.
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Jon Rahm, undoubtedly, is the best golfer the professional golf world currently can offer. However, can he maintain a similar status once he starts playing the new format in 2024? Do you think the new LIV Golfer can still win majors?
Watch This Story: “It Sucks”: Bryson DeChambeau Makes Honest Confession About LIV Golf After Devoting His Career to It