The Bombshell Rumor Gripping Professional Golf
ordan Spieth is a three-time major champion, a newly minted member of the PGA Tour’s board and just spent his weekend on the course with many of the world’s top players. But even he seemed to be totally in the dark about the potential bombshell gripping the world of golf.
Is Jon Rahm about to bolt from the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed LIV Golf?
“I know he’s maybe weighing some decisions, maybe not,” Spieth said. “I really don’t know, so I don’t want to insult him and say he’s weighing decisions if he already knows he’s not or he is.”
One thing Spieth clearly understood was the stakes involved in any move by the world’s No. 3-ranked golfer. “Jon Rahm,” he said, “is one of the biggest assets that we have on the PGA Tour.”
Speculation over the future of a notoriously temperamental Spaniard and Ryder Cup hero is the subject of feverish gossip across two circuits because it’s really speculation about the future of the entire sport: LIV would be stealing one of the biggest global golf stars just ahead of a rapidly approaching Dec. 31 deadline for its Saudi backers to join forces with their former sworn rivals—and Rahm’s current bosses—at the PGA Tour.
While LIV pilfering a marquee Tour player might not violate the letter of the agreement between the two sides, which initially included an anti-poaching clause that was later tabled over antitrust concerns, it would most definitely upend the dynamics of their tentative truce.
Rahm hasn’t commented on the latest rumors, and his agent didn’t respond to a request for comment. But LIV adding the reigning Masters champion to its roster, for what would likely be an enormous sum of money, would represent a coup on numerous levels: Rahm is the world’s No. 3 golfer. He would be backtracking on his previous opposition to LIV’s format. And it would undermine the many forecasts of LIV’s demise after the Saudi Public Investment Fund stunningly cut a deal with the Tour. By signing Rahm, LIV would be doing more than running on fumes—it would be stepping on the accelerator.
“LIV Golf is moving full steam ahead and remains as committed as ever to its mission to enhance the game of golf for both players and fans through a franchise model that is quickly becoming the norm,” said LIV Golf spokesman Doug Mayer. “The 2024 season will feature world class golfers in elite team and individual competition at courses all over the globe—showcasing a new and fresh style of professional golf.”
At the same time, it’s equally possible that the smoke around Rahm is coming from the charged negotiations between PIF, the Tour and Europe’s DP World Tour. Here’s tension, uncertainty and nobody is quite sure how all of this will shake out.
Rahm, in the past, had not been subtle about his loyalties. In February of 2022, he bluntly stated: “I am officially declaring, let’s say, my fealty to the PGA Tour.”