Jon Rahm became LIV Golf’s marque signing when making the Saudi switch last December, but the Spaniard has been warned not to burn any bridges with the PGA Tour
Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm’s fellow player in the Ryder Cup, cautioned Rahm against criticizing other competing tours after his decision to join the Saudi-backed league for 2024. Rahm’s move to LIV was their biggest success so far, as he signed a groundbreaking deal worth £450 million to switch from the PGA Tour to join Greg Norman and his team. It is clear that Rahm did not experience the same level of scrutiny as some of the other players who left LIV during the initial wave of transfers nearly two years ago.
In recent months, tensions in professional golf have calmed down slightly following the announcement that the PGA Tour was in talks with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia to establish a resolution.
“Rahm informed his Ryder Cup colleagues through a group chat about the news, and although Lowry did not object to the decision, he suggested to the Spaniard to keep it low-key.
Lowry mentioned on the ForePlay Podcast that there were widespread rumors at the time and everyone was discussing it separately.”
“And then Jon put a message into the group telling us. Some guys are like, whatever, and I was like, that’s your choice. Just don’t go there and s**t on the tours like some people did.” The Irishman also Issued the same plea to another European Ryder Cup star in Tyrrell Hatton, who joined Rahm earlier this month.
“Go there, and go gracefully, and do what you have to do. And Tyrrell [Hatton] the same,” he continued. “I think what Jon said about growing the game and stuff that’s obviously what they have to say. They’ve signed on the dotted line. They’ve been told by the communications team that this is what you say when you’re asked this and you have no other choice really because they own you now.”
Just like his fellow LIV colleagues, Rahm had his PGA Tour membership put on hold following his lucrative transfer.
It is anticipated that a plan will be put in place, as outlined in the agreement between the Tour and PIF, to allow Rahm and others to potentially regain their playing privileges in the coming days.
Rahm stated his intention to participate in all three LIV Golf, PGA Tour, and DP World Tour events following his recent move. He emphasized the importance of keeping his status in both the PGA Tour and DPWT.
I hope that thanks to the freedom provided by LIV, I will be able to participate in both tours. There are specific PGA Tour tournaments that I would like to take part in, depending on my schedule. If feasible, I aim to make that a reality. .”