Tyrrell Hatton walked up to a microphone at El Cameleon Golf Club, dressed head to toe in the black-and-pink apparel of his new team, Legion XIII, and confirmed one of the worst kept secrets in professional golf.
After a decade on the DP World Tour and four years on the PGA Tour, the European Ryder Cup player decided to make a change. He joined LIV Golf to team up with Jon Rahm, a two-time major champion.
“It feels like my first day at school,” Hatton expressed. “I’m still getting used to everything, but I’m really excited.”
Being one of LIV’s major signings for their third season, the 32-year-old English golfer has already achieved significant victories, such as winning at Bay Hill in 2020 and finishing second at the Players Championship last year. Alongside Hatton, Rahm, Poland’s Adrian Meronk, and Lucas Herbert also joined the team, making it a high-profile lineup.
Hatton was said to have received a whopping $60 million signing bonus. After more than a month of negotiations, it seems that the delay was caused by concerns about his eligibility for the Ryder Cup in the future. Luckily, his teammate Rory McIlroy reassured him and put his mind at ease.
When Rahm signed with LIV in December, McIlroy expressed his belief that the rules should be changed to avoid the Spaniard being banned from the Ryder Cup in 2025 at Bethpage. However, both Rahm and Hatton will still be able to play in the Ryder Cup since they have retained their DP World Tour membership. For the 2023 Ryder Cup, only players who were DP World Tour members in good standing were eligible to represent the European team, which unfortunately excluded many LIV players who had given up their DP World Tour memberships.
Bryson DeChambeau expressed his belief that the Ryder Cup holds a significance that goes beyond just being a part of the PGA Tour or LIV. He believes it is something greater than that.
Apart from the Ryder Cup, there is a question regarding whether LIV golfers will be able to rejoin the PGA Tour if the U.S. circuit reaches an agreement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) to become an investor in the newly formed PGA Tour Enterprises. The tour recently signed a deal with Strategic Sports Group as a minority partner, but negotiations with the PIF are still ongoing, building upon the framework agreement signed last June. However, if a deal is reached between the PGA Tour and PIF, it will take time for the PIF’s investment to materialize due to regulatory issues.
However, it was beneficial this week when McIlroy expressed at Pebble Beach that those LIV golfers who “still possess eligibility on this tour and desire to return… allow them to return.”
Hatton mentioned that he had conversed with Rory to some extent in the previous week and also in December. He stated that Rory’s remarks were somewhat in line with what he had told him. It is not unexpected to hear him express the same sentiments in the media. Hatton expressed his desire to continue participating in events on the other two tours, although the outcome of that remains uncertain.
Rahm expressed, “I believe [McIlroy] is realizing that the golf landscape is shifting and it’s necessary to adapt. It’s great to have the backing of someone as talented as Rory, especially considering his impactful comments about the Ryder Cup. It’s a significant endorsement for change.”
After resolving any concerns, Rahm successfully secured his teammate for the 2018, 2021, and 2023 Ryder Cups, forming a team named Legion XIII alongside former college standout Caleb Surratt and Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent.
Rahm expressed a deep admiration for Tyrrell, emphasizing their strong friendship and shared experiences on prominent stages, including the Ryder Cup. He proudly declared their undefeated record together. Rahm also hinted at a profound understanding between them, alluding to certain reasons that remain undisclosed. He further acknowledged the similarities he sees between himself and Tyrrell.
Paul Casey, another esteemed member of the LIV team and a former Ryder Cup Europe stalwart, praised Tyrrell’s addition to the team, highlighting his exceptional golfing skills and particularly praising his putting and green reading abilities.
Rahm recognizes a similarity between himself and Hatton, which is their tendency to swear after making a bad shot. However, they will not be penalized for their profanities since LIV does not impose fines for such behavior.
Rahm admitted that he has faced trouble in the past, at least on his part.
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