Jon Rahm’s Disappointment at Unification Delay in Golf
Jon Rahm hoped his switch to LIV Golf would advance the unification of the golf tours, yet his expectations remain unmet. Despite being a catalyst, the sport’s division persists, with major championships as the rare stage for unified competition.
Renowned Golfer Jon Rahm Hoped His Move to LIV Golf Would Help Expedite Unification Efforts, but Remains Disappointed
Augusta, Georgia – April 2023
It’s been nearly a year since the announcement of the framework agreement between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, the backer of the LIV Golf league. However, a finalized deal to unite the game of golf has still not been reached. Jon Rahm, the reigning Masters champion, believed his recent decision to join the rival LIV Golf could have helped speed up the unification process. Sadly, the Spanish golf superstar’s hopes have not materialized.
During a pre-tournament news conference at Augusta National, Rahm revealed that he “hoped” his move to LIV Golf would be a step towards some form of agreement between the two tours. As a top-three player in the world, an 11-time PGA Tour winner, and a two-time major champion, Rahm’s defection to the Saudi-backed league was expected to shake up the sport.
“I understood that it could be, what I hoped, a step toward some kind of agreement, yes,” Rahm said. “Or more of an agreement or expedited agreement.”
However, five months after Rahm officially joined LIV Golf, he admitted that his expectations have not been met. “But unfortunately, it’s not up to me,” he lamented. “I would hope it would be something that would help expedite that process. But at the end of the day, I still did what I thought was best for myself.”
Rahm’s comments echoed a recent statement he made on BBC Radio 5 Live, where he explained that his decision to join LIV was partly motivated by the hope that he could “be the start of a tipping point” for the game to move in a positive direction.
“The balance of golf could be disturbed a little bit,” Rahm said. “There were very few players that could have made a bigger impact than myself. Not to be patting myself on the back a little bit too much, but I understood the position that I was in.”
Despite Rahm’s aspirations, the game of golf remains divided, with the four major championships serving as the only opportunities for top LIV and PGA Tour talent to compete on the same stages.
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