There’s no getting away from on-going rumours that double major winning Jon Rahm is going to sign with LIV Golf.
Reports say Rahm is expected to accept a whopping $600m deal from LIV that also will include a $300 million signing bonus while the champion Spaniard would have team equity and be named one of the LIV team captains.
Of course, it’s a golfing understatement to say that Rahm’s signing with LIV would be one of biggest coups, and also biggest shocks, if he accepts the record LIV offer and join a host of fellow major winners including Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and good friend and fellow Masters champion Sergio Garcia.
The recently-turned 29-year-old Rahm has 20 pro wins to his name that also includes 11 PGA Tour and 10 DP World Tour victories.
Fellow Masters winning Jordan Spieth, and now a member of the Tour’s policy board, was reported by Irish Golfer Magazine as saying earlier this week: “Jon Rahm is one of the biggest assets that we have on the PGA Tour. So it would be really not very good for us in general because we want to play against the best players in the world and that’s what Jon is”.
Just how the current World No. 3 ranked Rahm’s LIV signing will impact golf was highlighted by double PGA Tour and two-time Australian Open winner Matt Jones speaking with Sydney Morning Herald’s Andrew Pengilly, who spoke to a number of LIV stars contesting this week’s Australian Open.
“Jon Rahm could be the thing that changes everything,” Jones said. “He could control a lot of things that happen down the road as well. No one is going to leave Jon Rahm out of a Ryder Cup, you wouldn’t think.
“I would think it would be beneficial to LIV and what they’ve got going. To have a player of Rahm’s age, his ability and his world ranking, he’s got two majors, would be huge.”
Fellow Aussie Marc Leishman backs Jones’ views on Rahm joining LIV in saying: “I think we’re on the right track anyway.
“But he’d be massive. We’ll see if it all evens out. It’s such a great lifestyle on that tour. I’ve enjoyed it so much this year. You have all the perks alongside the lighter schedule and fun schedule. It’s pretty enticing for a golfer.”
Adam Scott, and Rahm’s fellow Masters champion, said he has no qualms if he signs with LIV but admitting it would be a shame for the PGA Tour.
“It’s crazy,” Scott said. “Good luck. I’ve always said to anyone, good luck if you can get it.
“I’ve always felt I don’t need to try and convince people to stay or go. I think everyone can make their decisions, but I don’t necessarily think the golf world’s worse if Rahm goes and plays at LIV. It’s a shame for the PGA Tour though.”
And Pengilly approached top Chilean golfer Joaquin Niemann who is on the same page as Jones and Leishman.
“It would be huge for LIV Golf. Obviously, we’ve got a lot of good players, but Jon Rahm could be one of the best players in history, the way he plays and everything he brings to the game”, said Niemann.
“If he comes it will be nice; if not, we’ll keep doing what we’re doing.”
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