Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton were star performers at the Ryder Cup last year as Europe regained the iconic trophy, but within a few months they both defected to LIV Golf to the surprise of teammates.
Shane Lowry has revealed the details of the conversation that took place in the European Ryder Cup group chat when Jon Rahm announced his departure from the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf.
Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton played a crucial role in Europe’s victory over the Americans at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome last October. However, within a few months, they surprised everyone by leaving the PGA Tour and signing lucrative contracts with LIV Golf.
In December, Rahm, the reigning Masters champion, joined LIV Golf in a deal rumored to be worth over £400 million. Shortly after, world number 17 Hatton also made the move on the eve of the new LIV season earlier this month. Unfortunately, this decision puts their participation in future Ryder Cups at risk, as European players must be active members of the DP World Tour to be eligible for selection in Luke Donald’s team, who will be defending their title at Bethpage Black in New York next year.
According to Lowry, the duo told their Ryder Cup teammates in Rome that they were joining LIV Golf before the news was made public, and the Irishman gave an insight into how they reacted.
“There were a lot of rumours going around at the time, and we were all individually talking about it, and then Jon sent a message to the group telling us, and some of the guys were like, ‘What’s going on?’,” Lowry said. “I said, ‘It’s your call, just don’t do what some people do on the tours – go there and do it gracefully.’
Tyrrell felt the same way. It was a shame they were leaving, and it’s strange that you won’t be able to play with Jon or Tyrrell in a tournament until the Masters.
It’s a weird time in the world of golf, so long as the guys go and leave gracefully, and don’t talk about the PGA and European Tours as if they’re bad, because they’re not. They’re still great tours, and we’re doing great without them. I really wish they hadn’t gone, but that’s just the way it is.
In his remarks, Lowry poked fun at a number of LIV players, with a number of them making a final jab at the PGA Tour before they left. Some players on the PGA Tour harbored strong animosity toward LIV after Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia joined the circuit based in the United States.
But it was evident that the 2023 European Ryder Cup team was a close-knit unit. Even though they weren’t overjoyed to see two players depart for LIV Golf, it encapsulates the close bonds they developed with Lowry and company. were cognizant of their choices.
The remarks made by the 2019 Open champion reflect how quickly the world of elite golf is evolving. The majority of players are eager for the authorities to find a peaceful way to bring the game back together, and hostility between the LIV and PGA Tour factions has decreased.
Now, the story is about whether LIV players, should an agreement between the rival tours be sealed, will face consequences when they return to the PGA Tour. Formerly the most ardent supporter of LIV players on the PGA Tour, Rory McIlroy has drastically reversed course and stated he would not object to LIV players being invited back for specific events.
However, some players, like Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas, feel differently. They think LIV players should be held accountable for their actions if they want to play on the PGA Tour in the future.
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