Jon Rahm: PGA Tour players feel betrayal after LIV Golf merger
The PGA Tour’s merger with the Public Investment Fund has arguably raised more questions than answers and Jon Rahm echoed this sentiment at Los Angeles Country Club
Former US Open champion Jon Rahm admitted PGA Tour players don’t have the answers they would like with regard to the stunning new merger with the Public Investment Fund.
Speaking at Los Angeles Country Club, Rahm revealed a large portion of players felt betrayal from the PGA Tour management that negotiated with PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan over the last seven weeks.
The Spaniard has largely avoided a combative stance when it comes to LIV Golf, but with the backdoor nature of the new deal that didn’t involve any players, Rahm recognised there are still unanswered questions.
The PGA Tour and the DP World Tour intend to unify the game of golf alongside the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, however, Rahm believes the players “don’t love” the state of uncertainty.
“They’ve certainly heard us (the PGA Tour leadership) throughout the whole process on some of the issues,” Rahm said.
“We’re certainly in a spot in time where there’s a big question mark – Where we don’t have the answers we would like. It’s hard to say.
“There’s a lot of not-answered questions. It’s tough when it’s the week before a major. Trying not to think about it as much as possible.
“It gets to a point where you want to have faith in management, and I want to have faith that this is the best thing for all of us, but it’s clear that’s not the consensus.
“I think the general feeling is that a lot of people feel a bit of betrayal from management. I understand why they had to keep it so secret.
“I understand we couldn’t make it through a PAC meeting with more than 10 minutes after people spilling the beans right away in some article by you guys already being out there.
“So I get it. I get the secrecy. It’s just not easy as a player that’s been involved, like many others, to wake up one day and see this bombshell.
“That’s why we’re all in a state of limbo because we don’t know what’s going on and how much is finalised and how much they can talk about, either.
“It’s a state of uncertainty that we don’t love, but at the end of the day, I’m not a business expert.”
Despite his concerns, the 28-year-old has also “gotten to the point where I don’t care that much.” Rahm is focused on winning a third major title and his second of 2023 in Los Angeles.
The World No.2 has played just four times since his win at Augusta National in April. He fell just short of defending his Mexico Open title at Vidanta.
Rahm has played a practice round this week with Sergio Garcia, a player he’s maintained his friendship with despite the PGA Tour/LIV divide.
He was spending time with his children when he discovered the groundbreaking news, and Rahm’s family and position in his career help to explain his carefree attitude toward the hostility in professional golf.
“At the end of the day, I’m still very privileged, whether the PGA Tour-LIV Golf align or not or who plays and who likes who. It doesn’t really matter.
“I’m happy where I am in my life, and every day in the morning when I look at my kids, I’m even more blessed in that sense.
“It’s an easy way to forget about what’s going on when I look at it that way. I can see where I came from in Spain, especially every time I see my parents I remember where I came from and where I’m at.
“To be honest, all those possible issues seem like a very, very small issue compared to other things in the world.”
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
