Jon Rahm has joined LIV in what is known to be a deal value as much as £450m; Butch Harmon: “I feel the extra you see a few of these gamers defect to the LIV event, it is going to make it simpler for everybody to get again collectively once more”
Final Up to date: 08/12/23 8:29pm
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Butch Harmon believes Jon Rahm’s departure would possibly improve the urgency of the PGA Tour to kind a merger with LIV Golf
Butch Harmon believes Jon Rahm’s departure would possibly improve the urgency of the PGA Tour to kind a merger with LIV Golf
Butch Harmon has labelled Jon Rahm’s multi-million-pound transfer to LIV Golf as “a significant coup”, however one which will really be the catalyst for concord within the recreation.
After weeks of hypothesis, Rahm confirmed on Thursday that he had signed for LIV Golf in a deal understood to be value as much as £450m.
Harmon believes Rahm’s transfer and the injury performed to the PGA Tour would possibly hasten a consensus with LIV, leading to the perfect golfers again taking part in in a single discipline.
“I feel the extra you see a few of these gamers defect to the LIV event, it is going to make it simpler for everybody to get again collectively once more,” Harmon mentioned. “This can be the beginning of constructing that occur.
“I feel they’ll must push to get the PGA Tour along with LIV, and the DP World Tour, get them to speak and check out to determine a approach for them to all reside fortunately collectively.
“You might even see LIV persevering with to reside the way in which they’re, otherwise you would possibly see somebody from the European tour and the American tour to have the ability to shuttle and play one in every of every.
“They’ve mentioned all alongside that may by no means occur however what occurred [with Rahm] goes to convey this nearer to fruition and get all of them to the identical occasions on the identical time. And that is all we wish as followers.”
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Wealthy Beem gave his response to Jon Rahm’s dramatic transfer from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf
Wealthy Beem gave his response to Jon Rahm’s dramatic transfer from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf
Former PGA Championship winner, and Sky Sports activities golf professional, Wealthy Beem had earlier labelled Rahm’s transfer as “massively damaging for the PGA Tour”, including: “It tells me there’s something occurring behind the scenes.”
Quizzed on that chance, Harmon mentioned: “I completely assume that.
“The PGA Tour has had issues financially. I feel that is one of many causes they needed to get away from the litigation they have been having with the Saudi-backed tour.
“They have been shedding some huge cash that approach, and so they needed to improve their prize cash.”
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After Jon Rahm’s transfer to LIV Golf was confirmed, we have a look again at a few of his remarks in regards to the rival tour over the previous 12 months
After Jon Rahm’s transfer to LIV Golf was confirmed, we have a look again at a few of his remarks in regards to the rival tour over the previous 12 months
He added: “It is a nice coup for LIV, getting, for my part, the perfect participant on this planet, a marquee title in every single place on this planet.
“And, from what I perceive from pals of mine that I do know on the tour, there are others that at the moment are severely enthusiastic about going over there.”
Spence slams Rahm’s greed
Jamie Spence, on the Sky Sports activities Golf Podcast:
“You’re confronted with a man who has in all probability acquired £100m in his account and the remainder and now he’s taking extra as he has to take care of his household. That’s the greatest load of b******t I hear. It’s simply greed, that is the stunning half. It’s a wealthy man getting richer.
“I’m not a fan of solely enthusiastic about your self in life, there’s a larger image. Neglect everybody else, Jon, who has labored actually exhausting behind the scenes to advertise you, put these tournaments on for you and get you the place you need to go…
“It’s an aggressive transfer from LIV. How are you going to kind a tour the place Rahm can come and play in PGA Tour occasions, DP World Tour occasions, and he’s incomes all this cash?
“Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and the opposite guys will not play for nothing. I do not understand how that’s all going to return collectively. How do you strike a deal that’s truthful?
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Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley says there was a ‘seismic shift’ in golf following Jon Rahm’s determination to affix LIV Golf
Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley says there was a ‘seismic shift’ in golf following Jon Rahm’s determination to affix LIV Golf
“My studying is that one thing has gone awry with the talks. Why would LIV signal Rahm if they’re going to come to an settlement with the PGA Tour?
“Golf is being ravaged as a result of [PIF] will not be coming in with agreements and doing it in a great way. They’re knocking the door down, shopping for what they will and inflicting disruption.
“I feel Rahm has signed as a result of the PGA Tour is all about Tiger Woods and McIlroy and that has began to p**s him off.”