February 12, 2025
Jon Rahm breaks silence on LIV Golf defection

Jon Rahm formally joined LIV Golf Thursday, becoming a member of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka in spurning the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed sequence.

The reigning Masters champion made the announcement on Fox Information Channel’s “Particular Report” carrying a black and white letterman jacket with “LIV Golf” emblazoned throughout his proper shoulder.

The No. 3 golfer on the planet shocked golf followers who possible believed he was going to remain on the PGA Tour.

He touted the group’s historical past and his personal legacy simply final yr whereas chiding LIV for its 54-hole tournaments. These days are clearly over.

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Masters champion Jon Rahm throws out the primary pitch throughout Recreation 4 of the World Collection at Chase Area Oct. 31, 2023. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic/USA At the moment Community)

“It isn’t a simple choice as a result of I’ve had a extremely profitable profession, and I’ve been very joyful. However there’s quite a lot of issues that LIV Golf has to supply that have been very, very engaging, beginning with staff golf,” he informed Fox Information’ Bret Baier. “Being a part of a staff is one thing that’s been actually massive for me all through my profession. 

“I used to be a part of the Spanish nationwide staff from the age of 14 until I graduated faculty. I used to be a part of the Arizona State golf staff. And you recognize, as a professional, you don’t have that probability fairly often. And if you’re European or American, you barely have that probability, proper? 

“So, it’s one thing that may be very, very enjoyable to play for one thing extra than simply your self. And easily the expansion that LIV Golf has delivered to the sport of golf. Proper? It’s one thing recent, one thing new, one thing with a ton of potential and alternative and one thing I’m actually enthusiastic about.”

Cash may additionally have been a motivating issue.

ESPN reported earlier within the day that Rahm’s deal was value $300 million over three years. Rahm wouldn’t touch upon the reported numbers however doubled down on his declare he doesn’t play golf for the cash.

Jon Rahm at Scottsdale

Jon Rahm makes an eagle from a greenside bunker on the fifteenth gap in the course of the second spherical of the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale Feb 10, 2023. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic/USA At the moment Community)

“Yeah, the cash is nice. Clearly, it’s fantastic. However what I’ve mentioned earlier than is true. I don’t play golf for the cash. I play golf for the love of the sport and for the love of golf. However as a husband, as a father and as a household man, I’ve an obligation to my household to provide them one of the best alternatives and essentially the most quantity of assets potential. And that’s the place that is available in. 

“Clearly, it’s a issue, and it was an essential one, clearly, on this choice. However there’s many different issues, like I discussed earlier, that make it so thrilling. When you get previous that, the love of the sport and eager to develop it to a worldwide market, being a part of the staff, being a captain, hopefully being a pacesetter to teammates. It’s one thing that’s so, so particular that, you recognize, it makes me wish to work tougher than I’ve till now to truly show myself. 

JON RAHM TO JUMP TO LIV GOLF MORE THAN YEAR AFTER SAYING ‘HEART’ WAS WITH PGA TOUR: REPORTS

“And, you recognize, being a European and rising up being a fan of athletics, that can permit, hopefully, some youngsters sooner or later rising up in Spain … to be a part of this staff that I’m going to construct, proper? (It’s) one thing that hopefully I’m associated to for a really very long time. Hopefully, till I die, I could make it one thing very particular.”

Rahm pushed again on the notion LIV was shopping for a sport, saying no one “was forcing us to do that,” including gamers are making their very own option to make the leap.

LIV Golf celebration

Crushers GC staff captain Bryson Dechambeau celebrates with teammates Paul Casey, Charles Howell III and Anirban Lahiri after profitable the staff championship in the course of the closing spherical of the LIV Golf Miami golf event at Trump Nationwide Doral in Doral, Fla., Oct. 22, 2023. (Sam Navarro/USA At the moment Sports activities)

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“It was a alternative for me and my household and the higher of our future,” he mentioned. 

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