Actuality has set in for gamers on the PGA Tour as one in all their finest and brightest stars will not be with them on a weekly foundation. With world No. 3 golfer Jon Rahm defecting LIV Golf, the departure of the two-time main champion and 2023 Masters winner has despatched shockwaves by the golf world.
“Finally, down the highway, division is not an excellent factor,” mentioned Rickie Fowler. “I am hopeful issues will proceed to work in the precise course for the larger of the sport. However what that’s, I do not know. I want I may let you know. We’re sort of all on this journey collectively and sort of determining and studying as we go.”
Rahm’s election to leap to LIV Golf comes at a time when the skilled panorama is in flux. Nonetheless, after two years, it appeared the sport was lastly on the highway to restoration because the PGA Tour started negotiating with the Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund — the monetary backer of LIV Golf — to accommodate business operations underneath a brand new for-profit entity.
Whether or not the transfer to amass the Spaniard is a negotiation tactic or just a big-money signing might be revealed in due time, but it surely actually has an impact on the larger ecosystem. An 11-time winner, former world No. 1, valiant Ryder Cup competitor and the present Masters champion, Rahm is among the many greatest attracts within the recreation. His resolution does simply as a lot to assist LIV Golf because it does harm the PGA Tour.
“This can be a enormous a part of the jigsaw puzzle that you have seen Jon go,” Justin Rose informed Sports activities Illustrated. “After which I do not know who else goes with Jon. I imply, clearly, if it is simply Jon, that is dangerous sufficient. What does that imply now … if it is Jon plus a trickle?”Â
“We’re all making an attempt to guage PGA Tour versus LIV within the sense of the fan base and the economics round each excursions, however he is the delta. He strikes the delta. He weakens one aspect and strengthens the opposite. So, it is a huge transfer.”
A giant transfer certainly, and a giant buy from the PIF, which has not been shy with its checkbook for the reason that inception of LIV Golf. Rahm’s signing will make him the very best paid participant within the league with studies of a deal that exceeds $300 million and consists of further fairness in his personal group.Â
This quantity is jaw dropping within the golf world and akin to elite quarterbacks within the NFL. Patrick Mahomes’ 10-year deal quantities to $450 million, whereas Joe Burrow makes an annual wage of $55 million. Rahm is just not solely in that neighborhood now, he has the perfect lot as nicely.
“If anybody provided you 400, 500, 600 million — I do not know what the quantity is, but it surely’s someplace in that ballpark. If somebody provided you that a lot, you’d play on Mars, what I imply?” Jason Day mentioned. “So, yeah, I do not assume it has something to do with the PIF and the PGA Tour deal or one thing.”Â
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