Jon Rahm announced that he will be gone for some time. Here’s why that caused misunderstanding.
Six days after Jon Rahm announced at a New York City press conference that he was signing with LIV Golf, the Spanish superstar was back in his homeland earlier this week to accept an award from a prestigious sports and social club on Spain’s northern coast.
At least a couple of things were clear from Rahm’s visit to La Sociedad Bilbaina, in the Basque city of Bilbao, about a 20-minute drive south of Rahm’s hometown: He was humbled to receive the club’s Dama Bilbaina prize for outstanding sporting achievement but also taken aback by the number of media in attendance; as Rahm spoke in his native tongue to the assembled crowd, two microphones perched on a podium in front of him, he said that he had been expecting a more “intimate” affair.
However, a Reuters report claims that Rahm said more, and this is where the details get hazy. Rahm also talked about his intentions to keep quiet for the next few months during the event, according to an unattributed story published by the news organization on Wednesday.
“I have been given very strict instructions not to do any public event for myself and the change I have brought to the world of golf in the last week,” Lahm told Reuters. Agency.
Rahm added in a media interview: “Nothing will happen until February. I am not allowed.”
The reported comments were surprising because it was unclear who denied Lam permission to appear or speak to the media. Just yourself? Who are his teammates? His new employer LIV Golf? If the decision to hibernate is up to Rahm alone, why does it say “under strict instructions” and “you are not allowed to do this”? One possible explanation is that Rahm’s comments were translated from Spanish to English, so some very important context may have been lost.
But this is not the only gray area. In 2022, the Wall Street Journal reviewed a draft contract offered to potential LIV players that included provisions such as allowing players to wear branded logos at LIV tournaments and supporting LIV tournaments. Recruitment efforts. According to the magazine, the contract stipulates that players must refuse to be interviewed without LIV’s permission.
Let’s get back to Rahm’s interesting comments. Has LIV opened her mouth?
A LIV spokesperson told GOLF.com on Thursday that Rahm’s comments were “misinterpreted through translation.” The spokesperson added that Lahm “will be taking the remainder of December out of the media (according to him) to spend time with his family while on holiday in Spain.” There is nothing left now.”
Asked if LIV controls players’ access to the media, a spokesperson who also handles media inquiries for LIV said the league does not, and that while such a clause is in a player’s contract, it has never been enforced.
“No players have emailed me to request media support,” the spokesperson said. “They do what they want.”
If Lahm waits until February to step back into the limelight, he could do so in Mexico. The first LIV event of 2024 will take place on the Mayakoba El Chameleon course starting in February 2024. 2-4.
