A New PIF-Backed Era: Jon Rahm’s Grander Desire To Join LIV Golf Subtly Hints at an Unexpected Sporting Chapter

LIV Golf made their biggest coup of the year by signing Jon Rahm. Leaving golf fans bewildered, the 2023 Masters champion said in an official announcement, “I am proud to join LIV Golf 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 am very excited for the future.” The $300 million that he would receive, as per ESPN, has played a part in it. But for Rahm, there is something much bigger that he wants to achieve with this move.

But first, let’s take a look at what he stands to miss to understand the gravity of his choice. First of all, the $9 million in PIP money that he was supposed to receive for making the most impact, just after Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, will be delivered next season. Moreover, Rahm was also a strong contender for this year’s Player of the Year. Also, the OWGR’s cold shoulder to the breakaway league means his Ryder Cup chances might be in jeopardy, despite his Northern Irish teammate calling for the rule change this time. But for an 11-time PGA Tour winner, legacy outweighs the risk.

Jon Rahm envisions his legacy

Rahm kept himself in abeyance from the ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, and PIF, which bankrolls LIV Golf. “I’ve kept myself absent from all that to be able to play the best golf that I can play. I found it to be a little distracting at times, ”said the two-time Major winner in an interview with Fox Sports.

However, in all likelihood, Rahm will have his say over a few things in the breakaway league. The 29-year-old wants his legacy to be measured with that of his idol, Seve Ballesteros. “In Spain, which is my market, I always idolized Seve [Ballesteros] and how much he grew the game of golf in Spain and indirectly worldwide.”

The Spanish International has venerated the legendary golfer more than once. Ballesteros, rather than his statistical achievements—90 professional victories, including five majors—is hailed for his impact on European golf. The swaggering Spaniard walked into a feeble Ryder Cup team that lost twenty of its last twenty-four outings to the USA and gave the opponent a run for its money in their own backyard.

The 1983 Ryder Cup transformed a game that became a one-sided dominance into one of the greatest tournaments in golf, where Europe has established its supremacy since winning 12 cups to the USA’s six since 1983. Europe’s dominance on the global stage was also a shot in the arm for the fledgling European Tour, which was struggling to find relevance and sponsors. “So hopefully I can do half as much as what he did. That would be a success,” the Spanish International offers some hints of his plans for the future.

History and legacy. Rahm has always valued these two more than anything. In fact, this was the reason why the Spaniard earlier rejected PIF’s offer. “I’ve always been very interested in history and legacy, and right now PGA Tour has that,” said the 11-time PGA Tour winner a few months ago. In Rahm’s legacy building process, the LIV Golf switch is the stepping stone. The fertile ground gives Rahm the chance to build a pyramid of his own. But does a tour loyalist’s change of heart also indicate a wind of change in the offing?

The Rahm snatch returns PIF the leverage it lost in June

When Rumayyan and Monahan first signed the $3 billion framework agreement, it was a little titled in favor of the tour. There was a clause that barred the parties from snatching players from rival leagues—a provision made to bar LIV Golf from inflicting further damage on an already bleeding PGA Tour.

However, Monahan had the leeway to court other investors and eventually outperform LIV Golf in the game of money-flexing. Moreover. PIF initially offered $2 billion in direct investment in the tour with a $1 million pool for the players who refused to join the breakaway league.

However, the LIV-proofing clause was struck down after the U.S. Department of Justice flagged its anti-competitive nature. Regardless, the PGA Tour got what it wanted—a lot of eyeballs from potential investors. Suddenly, PGAT’s valuation soared, and so did the tournament purses. Suddenly, there was no need to bring the nascent league on board.

Read More: What Are the 3 Major Takeaways From Jon Rahm’s Grand Entry Into the World of LIV Golf

But PIF’s pocket runs extremely deep. So Greg Norman could offer Jon Rahm half the money that was collectively reserved for a range of PGA Tour pros. If anything, this sends a signal to the PGAT chief that the PGAT’s existential crisis is not yet over. A deal is the only solution to the long-lasting threat LIV Golf poses.

Jay Monahan, too, seems to have understood the game. Last month, the Tour didn’t ban any players from taking part in the LIV Golf Promotions Tournament. Recently, appearing in the New York Times deal book summit, Monahan reiterated his ‘firm’ commitment to reaching a deal before the year ends. The two are set to meet later this week, and Rumayyan will have an extra bargaining chip in his hand. As for Jon Rahm, the Spaniard wants to write his winning Gilgamesh rather than stay as a footnote in Oddessy, authored by Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy.

Watch This Story | LIV Golf Takes Huge Leap Towards Success; With or Without Jon Rahm’s $600M Signing