Jon Rahm has dedicated to hitch the LIV Golf League from subsequent season; Reigning Masters champion and Ryder Cup star is the newest participant to decide to the Saudi-backed circuit, having gained 4 occasions 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 newest 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 largest signing up to now since their launch final summer time.
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 – attempt 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 switch 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 comprises Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Sergio Garcia, with McIlroy cautious of the influence that additional new arrivals at LIV Golf might have on the broader sport.
“My worry is that we proceed down this path the place we have now competing excursions and it divides the eyeballs which are on the sport,” McIlroy completely informed Sky Sports activities. “Some individuals like LIV, the vast majority of individuals just like the PGA Tour, but when LIV begin to take a couple of gamers every 12 months 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 principally cannibalising your self as a sport, form of the identical as what boxing has accomplished with all of the totally different organisations and some different sports activities have as properly. To me, having all one of the best 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 worry is that if we preserve happening this path then all one of the best gamers are solely going to get collectively 4 occasions a 12 months. Meaning golf is barely going to be related 4 occasions a 12 months and that is good for nobody within the recreation.
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Rory McIlroy explains his determination to resign from the PGA Tour board in November
“We have to get everybody again collectively and attempt to overlook about what has occurred up to now. Let bygones be bygones and all of us transfer ahead collectively – I feel that is what is going on to be one of the best 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 12 months, ending unbeaten in his 4 matches as Europe ran out 16.5-11.5 winners, though the change to LIV Golf might make future appearances more difficult.
Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson have been all dominated out of consideration to function in 2023 due to becoming a member of LIV Golf, however McIlroy believes Rahm’s change might sign the necessity to change to Ryder Cup qualification for the following version.
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The very 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 determination, the European Tour are going to should rewrite the foundations for Ryder Cup eligibility,” McIlroy defined. “There’s completely no query about that – I definitely need Jon Rahm on the following Ryder Cup group.
“I’ll miss competing towards him week in, week out. He has received a lot expertise, he is so tenacious and he is an amazing team-mate within the Ryder Cup. The factor that I’ve realised is that you may’t choose somebody for making a call that they really feel is one of the best 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 just a little 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 12 months that LIV Golf gamers won’t be able to earn world rating factors
“They let the primary guys actually take the warmth after which this framework settlement legitimised principally what LIV was making an attempt to do, then I feel it is made it simpler now if that is actually what you need to do.
“My opinion now’s and there is just one nice group 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 group competitors, then you realize you must cater for what the general public calls for.”
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