The Spanish World No.3 has revealed he is under ‘strict instruction’ not to give any more media interviews until his LIV Golf debut.
Golf fans were speculating if Jon Rahm was already being silenced by his new employers after the Spaniard revealed he wouldn’t be doing press conferences until next February.
Rahm shocked the sporting world by joining the rival LIV Golf League on 8 December after weeks of intense speculation.
It is reported that the current Masters champion has signed a £450 million contract.
In the upcoming weeks and months, more apples, according to a jubilant Greg Norman, should fall from the PGA Tour tree.
Rahm’s decision to accept the money after the North American circuit started talks with LIV’s Saudi financiers has been praised by some, but the 30-year-old’ssignificantU-turn has angered others.
Rahm has previously been critical of the breakaway tour’s format and laughed at speculation linking him with a move.
“It’s not a proper golf tournament,” he previously said.
Recent reports have suggested LIV will have conversations about moving to playing 72 hole events instead of 54.
The news agency Reuters quoted Rahm on 13 December stating he is now under ‘strict instructions’ not to do public events.
Rahm also told reporters the move was also part self-imposed owing to ‘the change I have given the golf world in the last week’.
He told the agency:
“There will be nothing until February, I’m not allowed to. I am under very strict instructions not to do public events, which I have imposed on myself a little bit for myself, and for the change I have given to the world of golf in the last week.”
Reacting to the news, one X user wrote: “A sad byproduct of this whichever ‘side’ you’re on or whatever your thoughts on how the future should look: One of the most thoughtful, intelligent, eloquent, insightful, open and honest voices in golf is now being gagged by the Saudis.”
Another added: “Well, there seems to be a lot of freedom that comes with playing for LIV.”
This person twisted the knife: “Hostage type stuff here. Very, very cool.”
Rahm’s LIV debut will take place next February when the tour heads to Mayakoba, Mexico.
The two-time major winner will field a squad from LIV. As of yet, the roster is unknown.
Although the American recently posted a lengthy message on his Instagram page expressing how much he was looking forward to the new season, there were rumors that his good friend Tony Finau would be joining him.
He ended the post by writing: #imnotleaving.
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