Golf star Rahm changes sides: Future on the LIV Tour

Million-dollar coup - Golf star Rahm changes sides: Future on the LIV Tour

The Spaniard Jon Rahm has switched sides 24 days before the end of the negotiation period between the PGA and LIV Tours and will be paid from Saudi Arabia in future.

The decision by the best golfer of recent years has potentially huge implications for the future structures in the sport. The US Open and Masters winner made his decision public in an interview with Fox News and on social media.

Numerous media outlets had previously reported on the impending move, estimating the value of the three-year contract at between 300 and 600 million US dollars. According to the US news agency AP, the 29-year-old Rahm could earn more than the PGA Tour currently pays out in prize money across all its events. In 2023, there was a total of around 460 million US dollars to be earned on the PGA Tour.

Rahm himself did not want to answer the question about his earnings in the interview on Fox News. "I was happy," he said in a black college jacket with the LIV logo, referring to the PGA Tour. "But there are some things that LIV Golf can offer that are very enticing." He emphasized that he still doesn't play golf for the money, but as a family man he has an obligation and responsibility.

Several top players have already switched

The LIV has caused enormous unrest in recent months and persuaded players with guaranteed million-dollar salaries to switch. In June, the three golf series PGA, LIV and the European DP World Tour jointly announced that they had reached a "ground-breaking agreement to unify the sport of golf" and would be working together in future. According to the agreement, the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund PIF (Public Investment Fund), which was previously involved in the LIV Tour, will now also be a shareholder and financial backer of a new joint organization. However, there has been no binding agreement since then, and the self-imposed deadline expires at the end of the year. What Rahm's change means for the negotiations cannot be foreseen.

Before Rahm, five-time Majors winner Brooks Koepka, US Open and Masters winner Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau (all USA), who won the 2020 US Open, among others, switched to LIV. German PGA Championship and US Open winner Martin Kaymer also plays on the LIV Tour. The first really big name was Phil Mickleson.

McIlroy wants Rahm in Ryder Cup team

Rahm, who won the Masters this year and the US Open in 2021 - two of the most important golf tournaments - has been one of the absolute top players for years. In the past, he has always described a switch as uninteresting and referred to the tradition and greater importance of success on the PGA Tour.

However, Rahm will still be able to take part in the world's most important golf tournaments in the coming years. He has lifelong entry rights to the Masters. He is eligible for the PGA Championship and the Open Championship for another four years, and for the US Open for another eight years.

It is unclear what the change means for his participation in the Ryder Cup. Rory McIlroy, who has been one of the harshest critics of the LIV in the past, spoke out in favor of Rahm being allowed to take part. "There's no question about it. I want Jon in the next Ryder Cup team," said the Northern Irishman.