Jon Rahm’s long-awaited move to LIV Golf happened “sooner” than the Spaniard expected, and on Thursday he said the decision was “best for me and my family.”
Rahm spoke to select reporters on a conference call from New York City on Thursday, about an hour before LIV Golf officially announced the reigning Masters champion as the league’s newest star.
He did not provide details about his contract with the league, which is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, but said money was “one of the reasons” he joined, adding that his decision to leave the tour was effectively “today.” ” explained that it was given. ” According to reports, the deal is estimated to be worth more than $300 million.
“I’m very happy with my decision,” Rahm said. “It’s common for me to hear negative things on social media and in the media. It’s part of what it is, we’re public figures, but you have to deal with it. It’s just learning, right? This certainly doesn’t define who I am or change who I am.”
The world No. 3 player also announced that he will be the captain of a new team, bringing the number of teams in the league to 13 and the number of players to 52. He did not comment on who would join the team. “We’ll have to wait and see,” he said. Rahm will compete in the first event of the 2024 season at LIV Golf Mayakoba in Mexico from February 2-4.
Rahm said the Ryder Cup, which is ineligible to players who participated in LIV under current DP World Tour regulations, was the biggest hurdle he considered before joining a rival league. He also said he had not had a chance to discuss his decision with Luke Donald, captain of this year’s and 2025’s European Ryder Cups.
Rahm went 2-0-2 with Europe in Rome earlier this year, and declared his “loyalty” to the tour in early 2022, but he has not yet given LIV players, led by Sergio Garcia, this year’s season. We encouraged them to participate in the match.
Rahm also said he has not discussed his decision with Phil Mickelson. Mickelson was one of the first players to join LIV, and both players are represented by the same management company.
Speculation has been rife in recent days that Rahm may be ready to join LIV Golf, with many viewing the move as leverage for PIF in ongoing negotiations with the tour. Signing a high-profile player like Rahm, and potentially signing three other players to his team, sends a clear message to the Tour that PIF and LIV Golf are not going away. It will be.
“LIV Golf is here to stay,” Laurence Briand, LIV Golf’s chief operating officer, said in a statement. “John’s addition reaffirms that our league’s momentum is unabated. We continue to aggressively invest and build for LIV’s long-term and exciting future.”
Rahm said the decision to join LIV was “separate from negotiations” and that his job was “to play golf.”
“I just hope what’s going on behind closed doors.” [the Tour and PIF negotiations] It’s best for all of us,” Rahm said.
On Monday, the tour announced Rahm as one of five candidates for this year’s Player of the Year award. He won four games this season, including the Masters. The other four candidates are Scottie Scheffler, Windham Clark, Viktor Hovland and Rory McIlroy.