Jon Rahm has dedicated to hitch the LIV Golf League from subsequent season; Reigning Masters champion and Ryder Cup star is the most recent participant to decide to the Saudi-backed circuit, having received 4 instances on the PGA Tour in 2023
Final Up to date: 07/12/23 11:40pm
Jon Rahm has joined LIV Golf League from subsequent season
Rory McIlroy fears that skilled golf is in peril of ‘cannibalising itself’ and changing into much less related inside sport after Jon Rahm turned the most recent high-profile participant to hitch the LIV Golf League.
Rahm ended weeks of hypothesis about his {golfing} future by confirming he would be a part of the Saudi-backed circuit from subsequent season, with the reigning Masters champion arguably their greatest signing thus far since their launch final summer season.
The Spaniard’s change comes throughout a turbulent interval for the game, because the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund – who bankroll LIV Golf – try to finalise the shock Framework Settlement introduced on June 6 earlier than the preliminary deadline of December 31.
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Jon Rahm revealed in November he had no plans to interchange Rory McIlroy on the PGA Tour board, insisting he is ‘not constructed for it’
Jon Rahm revealed in November he had no plans to interchange Rory McIlroy on the PGA Tour board, insisting he is ‘not constructed for it’
Rahm can be a part of a LIV Golf line-up that accommodates Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Sergio Garcia, with McIlroy cautious of the impression that additional new arrivals at LIV Golf may have on the broader sport.
“My concern is that we proceed down this path the place we now have competing excursions and it divides the eyeballs which can be on the sport,” McIlroy completely advised Sky Sports activities. “Some folks like LIV, the vast majority of folks just like the PGA Tour, but when LIV begin to take a number of gamers every yr it is actually going to be divided and that is no good for anybody.
Jon Rahm has joined LIV Golf League from subsequent season
“You are mainly cannibalising your self as a sport, form of the identical as what boxing has finished with all of the totally different organisations and some different sports activities have as nicely. To me, having all the most effective golfers beneath the one umbrella is the easiest way ahead as a result of I feel that is actually what the general public needs.
“The majors are already so massive, however my concern is that if we maintain taking place this path then all the most effective gamers are solely going to get collectively 4 instances a yr. Meaning golf is simply going to be related 4 instances a yr and that is good for nobody within the recreation.
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Rory McIlroy explains his choice to resign from the PGA Tour board in November
Rory McIlroy explains his choice to resign from the PGA Tour board in November
“We have to get everybody again collectively and attempt to overlook about what has occurred prior to now. Let bygones be bygones and all of us transfer ahead collectively – I feel that is what is going on to be the most effective factor for the skilled recreation.”
Time for Ryder Cup change?
Rahm has featured in Europe’s final three Ryder Cup groups and was a key a part of their victory in Rome earlier this yr, ending unbeaten in his 4 matches as Europe ran out 16.5-11.5 winners, though the change to LIV Golf may make future appearances tougher.
Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson had been all dominated out of consideration to characteristic in 2023 due to becoming a member of LIV Golf, however McIlroy believes Rahm’s change may sign the necessity to change to Ryder Cup qualification for the following version.
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One of the best of the motion from day three of the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Nation Membership in Italy
One of the best of the motion from day three of the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Nation Membership in Italy
“Jon [Rahm] goes to be in Bethpage in 2025 so, due to this choice, the European Tour are going to need to rewrite the principles for Ryder Cup eligibility,” McIlroy defined. “There’s completely no query about that – I definitely need Jon Rahm on the following Ryder Cup staff.
“I’ll miss competing in opposition to him week in, week out. He has obtained a lot expertise, he is so tenacious and he is a fantastic team-mate within the Ryder Cup. The factor that I’ve realised is you could’t decide somebody for making a choice that they really feel is the most effective factor for them.
“Is it disappointing to me? Sure, however the panorama of golf modified on June sixth, when the framework settlement was introduced, and I feel due to that it made the bounce from the PGA Tour to LIV slightly bit simpler for guys.
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Jamie Weir explains why the Official World Golf Rating board got here to the conclusion earlier this yr that LIV Golf gamers will be unable to earn world rating factors
Jamie Weir explains why the Official World Golf Rating board got here to the conclusion earlier this yr that LIV Golf gamers will be unable to earn world rating factors
“They let the primary guys actually take the warmth after which this framework settlement legitimised mainly what LIV was attempting to do, then I feel it is made it simpler now if that is actually what you wish to do.
“My opinion now’s and there is just one nice staff occasion in golf and that is the Ryder Cup and that is by no means going to alter. But when the general public needs some extra staff competitors, then you recognize it’s a must to cater for what the general public calls for.”
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