Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton were star performers at the Ryder Cup last year as Europe regained the iconic trophy, but within a few months they both defected to LIV Golf to the surprise of teammates.
Shane Lowry has revealed details of the conversation that took place in the European Ryder Cup group chat when Jon Rahm shared his decision to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.
Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton were key players in Europe’s victory over the Americans at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome in October. However, shortly after, they made the decision to leave the PGA Tour and instead signed lucrative contracts with LIV Golf.
In December, Rahm, the current Masters champion, signed a contract worth over £400million. Following suit, Hatton, ranked 17th in the world, joined shortly before the start of the new LIV season this month.
By making this move, both players have jeopardized their chances of participating in the Ryder Cup, as European team members must be active members of the DP World Tour to be eligible for selection when Luke Donald’s team defends their title at Bethpage Black in New York next year.
Lowry has disclosed that Rahm and Hatton told their Ryder Cup teammates in Rome about their decision to join LIV Golf before the announcements were made public. He provided insight into how the players reacted to the news.
Rumours were big at the time and we were all talking about it individually, and then Jon put a message into the group telling us. Some guys were like ‘Whatever’,” Lowry told Fore Play. “I was like ‘Whatever, that’s your choice. Just don’t go there and kind of s*** on the tours like some people did. Go there and go gracefully and do what you have to do.
“Tyrrell was the same. It was disappointing to see them go and it’s kind of weird that you’re not going to play a tournament with Jon and Tyrrell until the Masters.
It’s a strange time in golf, so as long guys go and go gracefully and don’t tell everyone how bad the PGA Tour is and how bad the European Tour is, because they’re not. They’re still great tours and we do very well out of professional golf. I wish they wouldn’t go, but it is what it is.”
Lowry took a dig at several LIV players in his comments, with many taking a parting shot at the PGA Tour on the way out of the door. Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia were among the players who slammed the American-based circuit upon joining LIV, creating a deep feeling of resentment for several PGA Tour members.
The 2023 European Ryder Cup team displayed a strong bond. Although they were not thrilled about two players departing for LIV Golf, it reflected the close relationships they had developed, as Lowry and his teammates respected their choices. The remarks of the 2019 Open champion show how the elite golf world is evolving.
The tension between the LIV and PGA Tour camps has decreased, as most players are hopeful that the authorities will find a peaceful resolution to bring the game back together.
The focus has now shifted to the question of whether LIV players will face penalties when they rejoin the PGA Tour after an agreement is reached between the two competing tours.
Rory McIlroy, who was previously a strong advocate for the PGA Tour, has now taken a different stance by expressing that he has no problem with LIV players participating in specific tournaments. Other athletes such as Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler hold a different opinion, feeling that LIV players need to face consequences for their actions in order to participate in PGA Tour events again.