Exclusive; Jon Rahm and LIV Golf rebels get very brave as ‘respectful’ Masters agreement threatened
The boldness of Rahm and LIV Golf rebels surges in response to the potential jeopardy faced by their ‘courteous’ agreement with Masters.
This weekend, the Masters will feature Jon Rahm who is no longer a PGA Tour member and he is not alone as other LIV Golf rebels also compete.
On Monday, Jon Rahm sported his Legion XIII hat at Augusta National – prominently displaying the LIVGolf logo on its side.
The Spaniard showed no hesitation in possibly offending PGA Tour spectators as he confidently flaunted the two logos while practicing his iron shots on the range and playing a few practice holes. It is worth noting that during last year’s Masters, none of the LIV Golf players donned apparel featuring their official brand logo.
Phil Mickelson’s clothing proudly displayed his team’s HyFlyers logo, even after a meeting held among the LIV rebels before the 2023 tournament where they decided to remove any branding from their bags and apparel as a gesture of respect.
Last year, Cameron Smith, the Open champion, joked about packing an extra outfit for his trip to Georgia. He even revealed that he had prepared another set of clothes without featuring any team logos. Despite not receiving any comments from Augusta National regarding the matter, Smith remains proud and confident in wearing his personalized attire on the course unless it poses a problem for tournament officials.
However, this year is different. In addition to Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau sported his team’s Crushers hat and a Crushers golf bag was also seen at the range.
On Monday’s practice session, Mickelson persistently sported his HyFlyers cap while Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka donned TaylorMade and Nike hats respectively.
The latest LIV showing at the Masters is by far the most audacious and indicative of its course since being established after a contentious merger. Rahm’s move to LIV was especially damaging for PGA Tour, considering his previous triumph in last year’s Masters had been celebrated as an accomplishment for their group.
The acceleration of merger talks between the two organizations may have been prompted by Rahm’s departure, as stated by him. A meeting was held in the Bahamas and PGA chief Jay Monahan referred to them as ‘constructive’, but provided limited information on their status.
Regarding the consequences of his departure, Rahm stated to BBC Sport: “That’s a valid point. My decision could potentially trigger a tipping point,” he acknowledged. “I was aware of the significance and potential influence of my choice. It wasn’t an easy one for me due to this awareness.”
The equilibrium of golf may slightly shift, but I am grateful for my successful career, particularly in the previous year where I achieved significant recognition in the sport. As one of its major players presently active, few others could have exerted as much influence as me. While not overly self-congratulatory, it is evident that I comprehended and embraced my stature within this community.
