Jon Rahm believes the powers that be can avoid digger any deeper into their pockets to compensate players who resisted Saudi millions to stay loyal to golf’s existing tours.
After the PGA and DP World Tours performed the mother of all U-turns in an ongoing attempt to partner with the Public Investment fund of Saudi, some players have been left feeling betrayed having resisted mega-millions in signing on bonuses to join LIV Golf.
Rahm was one such player courted by LIV and while he’s undoubtedly benefited from increased prize purses for designated events that arrived as a direct response to the Saudi circuit, the Spaniard sees no reason for further compensation, insisting he didn’t choose loyalty against his will.
“I understand the PGA Tour wanting to do something for those players who helped and stayed on the PGA Tour, but at the same time – and I’ll be the first one to say – I wasn’t forced into anything,” Rahm ahead of The Open.
“It was my choice to stay. Do I think they absolutely should be and there must be a compensation? No. I just stayed because I think it’s the best choice for myself and for the golf I want to play. Now, with that said, if they want to do it, I’m not going to say no!
“We all had the chance to go to LIV and take the money and we chose to stay at the PGA Tour for whatever reason we chose. As I’ve said before, I already make an amazing living doing what I do. I’m extremely thankful, and that all happened because of the platform the PGA Tour provided me.
“As far as I’m concerned they’ve done enough for me, and their focus should be on improving the PGA Tour and the game of golf for the future generations.”
Rahm will be very much in the PGA Tour’s good books after speaking to media on Tuesday having also put his full support behind under fire chief Jay Monahan whose reputation lies in tatters since the emergence of the PIF deal.
“I think what the management of the PGA Tour, the turn they took without us knowing was very unexpected, but I still think he’s been doing a great job,” Rahm added. “Right now after that happened, I only think it’s fair to give them the right time to work things out.
“I still think they [PGA Tour board] have the best interest of the players at heart. All we have right now, it’s a framework agreement. It’s an agreement to have an agreement. We really don’t have anything right now to be able to say or judge what they’ve done.
“He still has all this time to work this agreement to basically prove that this was the right decision.”
Leave a comment