Jon Rahm wants to “grow the game of golf” while on LIV Golf League.
Jon Rahm has revealed he intends to “grow the game of golf and make it better” having joined the LIV Golf League.
He has also sent a message to Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, as well as Patrick Cantlay.
Late in the day on December 7, Rahm, 29, revealed the golf industry’s worst-kept secret in an interview with Fox News.
Rahm is reportedly the highest earner on LIV Golf in 2024 after accepting a fee of £450 million.
Rahm will take on the role of captain for his own LIV Golf team; the team’s name and the identities of Rahm’s three teammates will be disclosed shortly.
Speaking to Fox News having made his signature official, Rahm explained the money was of course a factor in his decision process.
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great deal.”
But he also used the golden ticket of ‘my goal with this is to grow the game of golf.
When pressed on his thoughts about a 54-hole format and shotgun start – two things Rahm has been criticial of with LIV Golf in the past – he told Fox News:
“I know captains have a say and I know they listen to the players as part of the organization so I’m looking forward to having some conversations and giving them my opinion and maybe seeing some changes for the best in the future.
“But my goal with this is to grow the game of golf, to make it better, whatever that may be. I’m an ambitious person but I’m not a greedy one, I know I can’t have everything, so there are some things I’ll have to sacrifice and for right now that is one I can live with.”
Jon Rahm sends message to Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods
Rahm also had a message for the PGA Tour’s two leading superstars in Woods and McIlroy.
The Spaniard of course recently withdrew from their new TGL, which has now been pushed back to 2025 as a result of the stadium roof collapsing just weeks before the initial start date.
Now having become suspended from the PGA Tour just weeks before their deadline for a potential merger with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), Rahm admitted he was hopeful the circuit could still accomplish all of its goals in this ever-changing environment within the sport.
It was there where he mentioned the great work of McIlroy, Woods and Cantlay.
McIlroy last month stepped down from his duties on the PGA Tour policy board but Cantlay and Woods are very much leading the line as player directors on the circuit.
Rahm said:
“My message to them [PGA Tour] is that I truly trust they can achieve what the objective is and what the objective will be. I’m exceptionally grateful for the work large numbers of them have done. I would agree featured by Patrick Cantlay, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods. They’ve invested a great deal of energy in gatherings and calls in realizing what the eventual fate of the game might seem to be, I need to say thank you and I genuinely trust their purpose is what they need. This wasn’t a thing individual with them, it was the most ideal decision for myself as well as my family and the bettter of our future. I trust every one of the companions I’ve made will remain my companions since I’m surely not going to change.”
McIlroy and Woods have since responded to Rahm’s LIV Golf decision.
Rahm also said he hoped his childhood hero in late great Seve Ballesteros would have been “supportive” of his decision to join LIV.
What do you make of Rahm’s call to join LIV Golf? Are you shocked or did you see it coming? Share your comments over.
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