I WON’T LET HIM GO BACK TO THE PGA: Tiger Woods has released an official statement regarding Jon Rahm’s return to the PGA Tour, giving the reasons below
LIV Golf hit the jackpot to sign Jon Rahm last year, with the Spaniard joining dozens of top stars in joining the Saudi-backed breakaway tour.
Last December, Jon Rahm became LIV Golf’s latest high-profile acquisition, dealing an absolutely sickening blow to the PGA Tour.
The move came as a surprise given the Spaniard’s past comments about the breakaway tour. After previously praising the PGA’s history and defending its legacy, he mocked LIV Golf’s 54-hole format and said he wasn’t attracted to the big contracts offered to the defector by rivals backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
But in a surprising turn of events, the 29-year-old signed a permanent deal, reportedly becoming the highest-paid player in golf’s history. The deal was announced months after a potential partnership between the PGA and LIV was announced.
However, the framework for the partnership has yet to be agreed, and while LIV players have been given the green light to compete in one of the PGA Tour’s four major events, full collaboration between the two tours is still a long way off. Here, The Mirror looks at Ram’s situation and what the future holds for the former world number one.
Ram’s record deal with LIV Golf
Ram’s defection last year turned many heads, not only because of his past statements on LIV, but also because of the money involved. The 2023 Masters champion has reportedly signed a staggering $500 million (£386 million) deal, the biggest in LIV Golf history.
This surpasses the previous record held by Phil Mickelson, who received a £160 million contract for 2022. Rahm’s contract runs until 2028 and reportedly includes shares in the Saudi-backed tour, use of one of the Saudi Royal Family’s private jets, and a team of 10 personal assistants who provide round-the-clock care for him and his family.
Previously, Rahm was one of the few high profile golfers, along with the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, to pledge his future to the PGA Tour following the emergence of LIV Golf. After the defect, the Spaniard made efforts to contact his former tourist comrades, and although he supported Makilra, Woods apparently left Reading.
“I mean, the tiger, I wrote to him and the people who try to reach out, you know, the process when I signed, and I just made him know:” Hey, you know, it’s A personal decision. I have no grudge against anybody,” Rahm told ESPN in February.
Alluding to Woods’ failure to respond to his messages, Rahm said, “Rory supported my decision publicly and supported me privately.” He also did not shy away from accusations that his decision to quit the PGA was motivated by money. “This is a new change. A big change. I don’t want to gloss over this point. It’s a big change in how golfers pay. I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t a big part of this change. “That means I can’t play the same sports anymore and I have more time. I don’t know about most people, but for me it’s been great,” he said. Rahm’s Shaky Start at LIV Golf Rahm is the highest-paid player in the history of golf, but he doesn’t play like one. Many expected him to start winning titles as soon as the year started, but the two-time major champion is yet to win a single tournament on tour. Speaking ahead of the season’s 10th tournament in his native Andalusia, Spain, Rahm insisted the 54-hole format – what he once called “bad” golf – had no impact on its shape, but he called on the powers that be to consider moving to 72 holes. He also gave himself a “six out of 10” rating for his campaign so far, stressing that he just needs to find some consistency. “There have been weeks where I felt like I’ve gotten more out of it than I feel like I have,” he told reporters. “And there have been a few weeks where things could have been better.
“I haven’t won yet, so I’m going to drop significantly (in the season rankings). If I had to give it a thumbs up, I’d say it’s about a 6 out of 10. But the year isn’t over yet. There’s still a lot to play for.”
He may be public enemy number one in PGA circles, but that hasn’t stopped Rahm from imagining a future back on tour. Speaking ahead of the Masters in April, he admitted he “still loves” the PGA Tour, adding: “I hope I can compete there again.”
“Ultimately, I did what I thought was best for me and my family,” he said.
