There has long been thought to be a problem with too many alpha males in golf’s most prominent circles. Rory McIlroy even admitted that he looks up to Tiger Woods when it comes to adult discussions. As LIV’s threat remained, McIlroy’s long-time position as the PGA Tour’s unofficial shop steward meant others sought his advice. Jon Rahm has never been the type to shy away from standing out; It will probably inevitably be gratifying when others in the locker room encounter a more statesmanlike attitude during golf’s never-ending civil war. Rahm has an ego.
The way for Rahm to surpass his peers, even Woods, arguably the greatest player of all time, has always been simple: beat them. Two major wins is half McIlroy’s tally. Woods finished 15th. Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth have surpassed Rahm on golf’s biggest stages. If Rahm specifically took issue with the headlines generated by McIlroy and Woods, that serves as the kind of grudge that golfers can use to their great advantage at the ropes.
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Instead, Rahm now looks like little more than a pawn in Saudi Arabia’s dubious dance on the grass. Its upcoming transition to LIV; Will he join the Smashers, Bashers, Rangegoats or Mountaingoats? – It comes at a time when the PGA Tour is trying to sign a deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, ostensibly by December 31.
The necessity for this deal to happen in an environment where there are alternatives has now become even greater, LIV has seemingly shown that it can nab another important player from the PGA Tour. The deal would generally make no sense from a business perspective and would range in price from $300 million (£240 million) to $600 million. It’s a reminder to golf’s establishment that Saudi investors are neither looking to walk away nor mess around. Woods’ mention of “options” at the PGA Tour’s business desk will raise eyebrows in Riyadh.
It’s safe to assume there won’t be any more exorbitant LIV deals left. Rahm will attack while the merchant iron is hot. His closeness to Phil Mickelson and, to a lesser extent, Sergio García always made participation in LIV possible. The rebel tour needs the kind of mainstream attention it continues to fight for, especially in the UK and US.
But Rahm’s flip is complicated by his position, which he has stated more than once before. He will be accused of gross hypocrisy. “I laugh when people tell me about LIV,” the Spaniard said on a podcast in his hometown a few months ago. “I didn’t like the format at all.”
Rahm had “officially announced” that he would join the PGA Tour in early 2022. Later that year, he emphatically insisted that money meant nothing to him. “I play for the love of the game” He has always appeared as one of the sport’s greatest traditionalists, inspired by the legacy of Seve Ballesteros.
In fact, money cannot be of any importance to Rahm. His Masters victory in April cemented his place in the upper echelon of golf’s top earners. He could make mistakes for the rest of his career – an unlikely prospect – and he still has dozens, if not hundreds of millions, to fall back on.
Rahm will inevitably argue that this is about much more than dollar signs. People have the right to change their minds. Like Cameron Smith, he has major recent success that warrants several elements of future involvement. In the Ryder Cup Europe player group chat that welcomed Luke Donald’s reappointment as captain, Rahm told his teammates he would return to his role at Bethpage in 2025. but this golf will be harmonious to the extent that its participation will not be denied. Donald was hired as captain because Henrik Stenson moved to LIV, which means it would be a bit strange for Rahm to return to the team.
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In his defense, Rahm spoke harshly of how the PGA Tour finalized its framework agreement with the PIF in June. The 29-year-old player said he lost confidence in the PGA Tour’s leadership because the deal was made in secret. This is hardly an isolated feeling; As the sport enters a new era, it would be a shock if PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan remains in his position.
It’s unclear what this looks like. McIlroy, Rahm and Woods will face each other (conditioning permitting) at the Masters in April. Around this, Saudi investors continue to flex their muscles and the eyes of golf’s limited audience are turning in every direction. Rahm’s change, although not the cause of anything, is a symptom of a chaotic situation in the sport. • Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to email a response of up to 300 words for publication in our letters section, please click here.