Golf pundit Brandel Chamblee has spoken out following Jon Rahm’s controversial move to LIV Golf that sees him become one of the world’s highest paid athletes of all time
Jon Rahm’s move to LIV Golf has been questioned by former golfer-turned-pundit Brandel Chamblee, who hit out at the Spaniard for back-tracking on his old comments.
Rahm became the latest player to sign a lucrative deal to play in LIV Golf following an illustrious career on the PGA Tour. The 29-year-old won the Masters Tournament in 2023 and the U.S. Open in 2021 having turned professional back in 2016…
His move to LIV, amid an ongoing merger deal between the rival organisations, has been met with a range of emotions, including widespread criticism from both pundits and players alike. And former PGA Tour golfer Brandel Chamblee has been the latest to hit out at his decision.
Speaking during a Golf Central interview, Chamblee was critical of Rahm’s decision while reacting to the news. “I feel like a large part of the professional game is experiencing something like a Stockholm Syndrome as it relates to being involved with LIV,” Chamblee said.
“You look at Jon Rahm’s words in the past and the stark contrast to what he said – what he intimated many times,” he went on to add. “It was more convenient for him to do this. It’s also clear that he sold his career out.”
Chamblee’s comments may refer to Rahm’s previous claims where he has admitted that: “my heart is with the PGA Tour.” The 29-year-old also admitted at the 2022 U.S. Open: “I’ve never really played the game of golf for monetary reasons.”
In a surprising contrast to his claims, Rahm admitted that money was a factor in his move to LIV having signed a deal worth around £450m. “The money is great, it’s wonderful, but what I’ve said before is true,” he said at the press conference following the announcement.
“I do not play golf for the money. I play golf for the love of the game and for the love of golf, but as a husband and as a father and family man, I have a duty to my family to give them the best opportunities and the most amount of resources possible.
However, my objective with this is to become the sport of golf, to improve it no matter what. I’m an aggressive individual yet I’m not an eager one. I realize I can’t have everything, so there’s certain things I’ll need to forfeit and at this moment, that appears to be one I can live with.”
In a counter to Rahm’s cases that he needs to become the sport of golf, Chamblee accepts that his takeoff won’t mean something bad for the PGA Visit over the long haul.
“Will Jon Rahm’s cooperation carry more viewership to LIV? Likely will, and to the extent that it does, that will hurt a smidgen. Yet, I wouldn’t call it annihilating,” he said.
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