“I think what Jon said about growing the game and stuff, that’s obviously what they have to say,” Lowry said, according to the Irish Independent, at a press conference this week promoting next year’s Amgen Irish Open on the DP World Tour. “They’ve signed on the dotted line. They’ve been told by the communications team that this is what you say when you’re asked this and you have no other choice really because they own you now.

“I don’t know if it’s been damaging, but people who have spent their hard-earned money going out to join a golf club and buy golf clubs and play golf for the weekend, it’s tough for them to listen to the guy who’s already worth whatever say he has to do this to put food on the table for his wife and kids.”

Lowry is one of many who hopes that the standoff between the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and the DP World Tour will come to a halt sometime soon as the disruption caused by LIV has put golf in a “funny place.” He didn’t go so far as to attack executives at the PGA Tour, à la Viktor Hovland, but the 2019 Open champ is undoubtedly exhausted by the never-ending news cycle.

“Do I think they’ve been amazing? No, probably not,” Lowry said. “But I’m not going to criticise them because I think they couldn’t foresee this coming. It was something that just happened. I don’t really know.

“A lot of players have a lot of opinions on the leadership of the tour. But I don’t consider myself clever enough to be able to comment on running a billion-dollar organisation.”

Lowry echoed those comments while speaking with Irish sports website Balls.ie, where it was obvious his disappointment that he won’t get to tee off against Rahm until the Masters. His fellow pros hopping around has forced him to become a bit more “selfish” as well.

“Because it’s been going on for so long now, at the start it was dispiriting, but now, I’ve talked about this a lot with my team, you just have to worry about yourself,” Lowry told the website. “You just have to become that selfish golfer who picks their schedule and wants to play and win the best tournaments in the world. The best tournaments in my mind are Riviera, Bay Hill, the Players, and then leading up to the Masters. They are the tournaments I want to win.”

With all that said, Lowry is fanatical when it comes to the Ryder Cup, and he doesn’t see a reason for Team Europe to lose Rahm just because of his recent about-face. When it comes down to it, Lowry wants to win (and celebrate) the biennial event, and having Rahm on the team is certainly better than not having him.

Rory McIlroy recently called for a rules change to insure the Spaniard could make Team Europe’s Bethpage squad in 2025, but Lowry seemed confident that it won’t need to come down to that.

“The reason they [Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood] couldn’t play Ryder Cup this year was because they resigned their [DP World Tour] membership,” Lowry said Irish Open press conference. “There were certain players that would have been able to make the team if they played good enough, but they just didn’t. I am sure Rahmbo can play well enough to make the team, so if he doesn’t resign his membership, he can still make the team.”

Image: Andrew Redington

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The reigning Masters champ was in Spain on Wednesday to accept an award for his career from a private club in his native Basque Country. But he was surprised to see any cameras there and made it very clear he would not be doing any media, according to a Reuters report.

“I am under very strict instructions not to do public events, which I have imposed on myself a little bit for myself, and for the change I have given to the world of golf in the last week,” Rahm said.

When asked if he planned on giving an interview, the 29-year-old added, “No!”

It’s unclear where these instructions are coming from, but it has been reported that previous LIV contracts include restrictions about interviews needing to be pre-approved. Regardless, it sounds like the normally outgoing Rahm won’t be talking until the start of the 2024 LIV season.

“There will be nothing until February,” said Rahm, who is expected to make his LIV debut at the season-opening Mayakoba event Feb. 2-4. “I’m not allowed to.”

Rahm’s deal with LIV has been reported to be worth anywhere from $300-$600 million. And he now gives the Saudi-backed league three of the past five major champs as it continues its negotiations with the PGA Tour.

“I don’t consider that what I do is much different, and that I am more or less important than the rest,” Rahm said on Wednesday. “The only thing is that I’m seen on TV right now and that’s it . . . hopefully a little less so in the future.”

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In LIV, “Boom Boom” found a big target he couldn’t ignore, and he’s pulled no punches with some of the most notable players in the game. In one rant at a California PGA Tour Champions event in March, he called Sergio Garcia a “clown” and former Ryder Cup teammate Phil Mickelson a “nutbag,” though he admitted the latter is among the 10 best players of all time.

Said Couples at the time, ““If you’re giving Phil Mickelson $200 million at age 52 to shoot 74 and 75, God bless you.”

As it was then and now, Couples’ biggest peeve is players going to LIV and talking less about the money they’re getting than the draw of what’s different about the Saudi Arabia-backed circuit that features 48 players, 54 holes, no cuts, team play and enormous purses.

Appearing on Monday night on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, the 64-year-old, 11-time tour winner was again on a roll in the aftermath of the move of World No. 3 Jon Rahm to LIV. Last week, after he signed his deal reportedly worth at least $500 million, Rahm said, “Obviously the past two years there’s been a lot of evolving on the game of golf, things have changed a lot and so have I. Seeing the growth of LIV Golf, seeing the evolution of LIV Golf and innovation is something that has really captured my attention.”

That kind of talk makes Couples go off.

“Don’t sit there and then go on and say, ‘they’re changing the game,’” he said. “What are they changing? Actually, for 50 years, golf has been changed. Arnold Palmer changed it. Jack Nicklaus changed it. Tiger Woods changed it.

“The LIV Tour ain’t changing a thing.”

Couples acknowledged that players can choose to compete wherever they want, but doesn’t want to hear that money makes LIV great.

“One hundred million doesn’t get it; $200 million doesn’t get it; $300 million doesn’t get it, but for $400 million, it’s a great product, and it’s a great show?” Couples said. “OK. Tell me the next guy … ‘I’m going for free, boys. I love this [LIV] tour. I don’t like the PGA Tour anymore.’ No one’s going to do that.

“I wanna see the next superstar say, ‘I’m going to LIV, you know why I’m going? Because it is unreal.’” [The PGA Tour plays] Riviera, and they play TPC Phoenix in front of 300,000 people. I want ’em to go for free. Then go on CNN, and every TV show, and say why they’re going is because it’s that good.”

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Now that Rahm is the proud owner of a LIV Golf letterman’s jacket after jumping from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour for a deal reported to be worth somewhere between $300 million and $600 million, the question is whether he might have enough sway to introduce tweaks to the fledgling circuit. The 29-year-old Spaniard sounded optimistic last week during his introductory press conference.

“For all those things that I like about this movement [LIV], there’s always going to be some things that are not perfect, but that’s the situation,” Rahm said. “I’m hopeful that the leaders of LIV Golf might listen to some of my advice and maybe see some changes in the future for the better of the game.”

Exactly what he would want to see changed isn’t entirely clear. From the outside looking in, it seems the most effective pivot LIV could make would be extending its tournaments to 72 holes and introducing a 36-hole cut. That would seem to satisfy Rahm, who had said previously that “shotgun [starts], three days to me is not a golf tournament.” Having 54-hole events was also one of several reasons why, in October, LIV was denied an application to receive Official World Golf Ranking points.

But how would that go down with LIV’s other members, a list that includes major winners like Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith and Bryson DeChambeau? Perhaps most qualified to comment is LIV’s 2023 individual season-long points winner, Talor Gooch.

“He [Rahm] has been vocal about some stuff he didn’t love, but he wouldn’t have come to LIV if he thought he was going to win 10 tournaments a year and have no competition,” Gooch said. “He’s a true competitor. It’s beyond exciting [to have Rahm].”

Gooch won three titles from 13 individual LIV events in 2023. He also posted five top-10 finishes. All that accounted for more than $15 million in individual prize money and an $18 million bonus for the individual championship. The 32-year-old Oklahoma native thinks there’s two schools of thought when it comes to keeping LIV’s 54-hole identity.

“We haven’t had an open forum discussion with all the players,” said Gooch, who last week was transferred from Bubba Watson’s RangeGoats GC to Koepka’s Smash GC. “But you get both sides … guys who would welcome it [72 holes] and some guys who are opposed to it. Discussions will be had, and it’ll be interesting to see what comes of it.”

Gooch contends there are varying opinions among players, with some who would vote to add a fourth round to LIV events, even though he isn’t in favour of the move.

“I think LIV Golf was meant to be something different; I think it’s not supposed to be a carbon copy of the rest of professional golf. I lean towards keeping it at 54 holes,” Gooch said. “Part of it too, from my experience on the PGA Tour, was Thursdays are just irrelevant from a fan perspective [except for] only a couple times a year.

“I’ve always been an advocate of … I think the majors absolutely should be four rounds, but I don’t necessarily think everything else should be four rounds, almost similar to tennis. We want to do everything we can to make the most entertaining product but [also] the product that’s going to reveal the best golfer.”

Gooch’s tennis comment was referencing how men’s Grand Slams contest a best-of-five-sets format while playing in three sets at regular ATP events.

Despite his strong play on the LIV circuit, without those events offering World Ranking points Gooch has plummeted down the OWGR from a career-high of No. 31 to No. 298. As such, Gooch, who is not exempt into the field at any of the four men’s majors for 2024, will need to tweak his schedule in order to qualify for any of them via their OWGR criteria. To get into the Masters in April, Gooch would have to play plenty of Asian Tour and other sanctioned events outside of LIV to crack the top 50 by the end of March. The PGA Championship in May also will be tough. The U.S. Open and Open Championship, however, each offer the opportunity to play in qualifiers to earn spots into their fields.

“I haven’t even thought that far ahead, to be honest,” he said. “Of course, I want to play in all the majors. As [2024] begins, hopefully we can figure out how to get that done. If qualifying is one of the routes, that’s something I’ll look at.”

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Rahm was suspended under rules the tour adopted upon the inauguration of LIV that “ensure that suspended members do not negatively impact other players’ tournament eligibility, position on the Priority Rankings or eligibility to compete in the Playoffs and Signature Events.” As such, the tour said that Rahm’s results from the 2022-23 season—in which he won four times and finished 18th in the FedEx Cup—will not count in the points list that prioritizes eligibility for the 2024 season.

The happiest player in the circumstance is likely Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes, who moves from No. 51 to No. 50 in the standings and will now be eligible for the eight signature events in 2024 with $20 million purses. The other trickle-downs are that Alex Smalley moves to No. 60 and gets into two early signature events, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Invitational at Riviera, and Carl Yuan will keep his tour card by moving to 125th after he finished 126th following the FedEx Fall.

The tour noted that the final eligibility will be determined on Dec. 31, which leaves open the possibility that others could move up in the standings should there be more defections to LIV.

In the memo’s second section, the tour addressed concerns that were expressed in a petition circulated to the PGA Tour membership last week. That petition requested a “special meeting” to address how FedEx Cup points are calculated; the number of signature events; the PIP Program; and a discussion PGA Tour leadership, policy board and player directors.”

In 2024, winners of signature events will earn 700 FedEx Cup points compared to 500 for winners of other PGA Tour events, with the distribution of points more heavily weighted to signature events for all other finishes. The tour responded on Monday, saying the PGA Tour Policy Board and management team discussed the matter on a recent call and that “the board is listening to the concerns expressed from individual members and takes the concerns seriously.”

The memo noted that there was “considerable effort” to devise the 2024 schedule model, numerous scenarios were considered and the result came from extensive modelling. “Having performed this,” the tour said, “we believe the model approved by the board is the best model to achieve this goal.”

The tour said that it will closely monitor the model in the first half of 2024 and will conduct a thorough review of the system and determine if adjustments need to be made before the 2025 season.

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Suffice it to say, Rahm’s Thursday announcement changes the calculus on many, many things, some big and some small. That became evident within hours of Rahm’s appearance in his LIV bomber jacket on Fox News.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Rory McIlroy, who just a few weeks earlier confidently predicted Rahm was going to stay with the PGA Tour, explained he felt no ill will toward Rahm for leaving: “I’m going to miss competing against him week in and week out. He has got so much talent, he’s so tenacious and he’s a great teammate in the Ryder Cup. The thing that I’ve realised is that you can’t judge someone for making a decision that they feel is the best thing for them.’’

McIlroy’s reference to the Ryder Cup became even more notable when addressing whether Rahm’s defection to LIV would impact his ability to play for Europe in the future. Most LIV golfers from the continent dropped their DP World Tour membership, and thus were ineligible to compete at Marco Simone in September. At the time, McIlroy noted that the logistics made sense and that LIV players had to understand the possibility of being shut out of the team, going so far as to say: “They’re going to miss being here [Rome] more than we’re missing them.”

But with Rahm’s decision, McIlroy took a new posture. “Jon is going to be in Bethpage in 2025 so, because of this decision, the European Tour (DP World Tour) are going to have to rewrite the rules for the Ryder Cup eligibility,’’ McIlroy told Sky. “There’s absolutely no question about that … I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team.”

Rory McIlroy’s thoughts on Jon Rahm signing up to LIV pic.twitter.com/RsfkbFs7Mp

— Jamie Weir (@jamiecweir) December 8, 2023

The about face from McIlroy on the issue was something that was noted by commenters on social media.

Rory’s singing a different tune now that it’s Rahm. Didn’t hear this kind of chat from him about the others who joined LIV. “They are going to miss being here (Rome) more than we’re missing them.” https://t.co/PVhu0KowvU

— Tom English (@TEnglishSport) December 8, 2023

To which, McIlroy owned up to his changed viewpoint.

Rory’s singing a different tune now that it’s Rahm. Didn’t hear this kind of chat from him about the others who joined LIV. “They are going to miss being here (Rome) more than we’re missing them.” https://t.co/PVhu0KowvU

— Tom English (@TEnglishSport) December 8, 2023

Indeed, Rahm’s jump to LIV is going to change a lot of people’s thinking about a lot of things.

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“I am proud to join LIV Golf and be part of something new that is bringing growth to the sport,” said Rahm. “I have no doubt that this is a great opportunity for me and my family and am very excited for the future.”

“When I first met Jon at the age of 17, I knew then that the golfing world was about to witness the birth of a new star. Jon has consistently validated that he is one of the top players in the world. He’s a generational talent who has proven his merit as a multiple major champion and tremendous ambassador for global golf by placing the game ahead of himself,” said LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO Greg Norman.

“There are very few athletes with his pedigree of talent, leadership, poise, and commitment to bringing progress to the sport on a worldwide stage. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Jon to the LIV Golf family as the league continues preparations for a huge 2024 and beyond.”

Added Lawrence Burian, LIV Golf Chief Operating Officer: “LIV Golf is here to stay. The addition of Jon reemphasizes that our League is not slowing down. We are continuing to invest and build aggressively for LIV’s long-term and exciting future.”

Rahm’s impact as one of the most dominant players of the past decade spans the globe. The 29-year-old has amassed 20 wins, including the 2023 Masters, 2021 U.S. Open, and the DP World Tour Championship three times (2017, 2019, 2022). The Spaniard has played in three consecutive Ryder Cups, helping lead Team Europe to victory in 2018 and 2023. This year, Rahm won four times while also finishing tied for second in the 151st Open Championship and tied for fifth in the DP World Tour Championship.

Throughout his career, Rahm has earned 93 top-10 finishes with accolades including 2021 PGA of America Player of the Year, two-time European Tour (DP World Tour) Golfer of the Year, and 2019 European Tour Race to Dubai Winner. Before turning pro, Rahm was the world’s No. 1-ranked amateur for a record 60 weeks, and twice won the Ben Hogan Award at Arizona State University as the nation’s top collegiate golfer.

Details on Rahm’s team will be announced at a later date. He joins LIV Golf’s star-studded, international field returning in 2024 with many of the sport’s biggest names including 2023 Individual Champion Talor Gooch (Smash GC), 2020 U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau (2023 Team Champions Crushers GC), 2022 Open Champion Cameron Smith(Ripper GC), 2023 PGA Championship winner and five-time major champion Brooks Koepka (Smash GC), six-time major winner and World Golf Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson (HyFlyers GC), two-time major winners Dustin Johnson (4Aces GC), Bubba Watson (RangeGoats GC) and Martin Kaymer (Cleeks GC), and many more.

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Wait, Jon Rahm is going to LIV?

Allegedly! Rahm’s been linked with the Saudi-backed circuit throughout the past two years, thanks to his affiliation with Phil Mickelson (more on this in a moment) and his appeal as an international commodity (something LIV has targeted). However, since the Ryder Cup this fall, the rumours have increased in noise, with a handful of pro-LIV social media handles reporting the deal between Rahm and LIV is done. It should be noted—nay, SHOUTED—that nothing is official; that many of these handles have incorrectly claimed players are jumping in the past; and Rahm, to this point, has not addressed the speculation.

I’m confused … hasn’t he said he would never go to LIV?

Yes, many times! Here’s Rahm in February 2022, right around Mickelson’s scary quote:

“This is my official, my one and only time I’ll talk about this, where I am officially declaring my fealty to the PGA Tour.”

Then, at the 2022 U.S. Open:

“I’ve never really played the game of golf for monetary reasons. I play for the love of the game, and I want to play against the best in the world … I have always been interested in history and legacy, and right now the PGA Tour has that. There’s a meaning when you win the Memorial Championship. There’s a meaning when you win Arnold Palmer’s event at Bay Hill. There’s a meaning when you win L.A., Torrey, some of these historic venues. That to me matters a lot. After winning this past U.S. Open, only me and Tiger have won at Torrey Pines. Making putts on 18—that’s a memory that I’m gonna have forever that not many people can say. My heart is with the PGA Tour. That’s all I can say. It’s not my business or my character to judge anybody who thinks otherwise. And for a lot of people, I’m not gonna lie, those next three, four years are worth, basically, their retirement plan. It’s a very nice compensation until they retire and sail off into the sunset.”

Granted, to say a little has changed between last summer and now is a gross understatement. However, Rahm said this in August about LIV: “I laugh when people rumour me with LIV Golf. I never liked the format. And I always have a good time with Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia in the practice rounds of majors. Phil respects my decision, and I respect his [choice]. Mickelson has told me that I have no reason to go play for LIV, and he has told me that multiple times.”

So, if Rahm were to leave … tough look. Not as bad as Brooks Koepka claiming, “Somebody will sell out” and take LIV’s money, though.

Ross Kinnaird

Why would Rahm leave?

A darn good question, considering in its two years LIV has proved itself incapable of taking one step forward without stepping on the other foot. However, despite Rahm’s insistence that money wouldn’t change his life, sources tell Golf Digest there are family members and friends pushing for Rahm to take the deal. Additionally, Mickelson remains an influential person in Rahm’s orbit, and Mickelson’s brother Tim was Rahm’s college golf coach and first agent. Rahm is also represented by the same agency as Mickelson. Also worth noting is Rahm’s … how should we put this? … indignation at the PGA Tour, multiple sources tell Golf Digest. Rahm believes he’s not marketed the same as other players on tour and that there are those below his station who have a greater voice in the tour’s direction. Going to LIV would allow Rahm to be the face of the league.

Finally, Rahm is now at the stature where he’s judged by majors and majors alone. He’s in the Masters for life, the U.S. Open until 2031 and exemptions into the PGA Championship and Open Championship for the next four years. That’s a lot of runway for a 29-year-old, with plenty of room to add to it.

What could this mean for LIV?

Everything. LIV has failed to gain traction with the golf populace and didn’t bring any additional starpower over into its sophomore campaign. Heading into its third season, LIV’s roster remains filled primarily with has-beens or rank-and-file names, and the league’s rejected application for World Ranking points means LIV will not shed accusations that it’s nothing more than an exhibition anytime soon. However, they would now have arguably the best golfer in the world in the prime of his career. That doesn’t turn the rest of LIV’s barnstormers into gladiators or equate to a jump in viewership, but it gets LIV headed in the right direction.

It also, and we hate to use the word “narrative,” but, let’s be real, LIV Golf has a number of players with character baggage. Rahm is a respected man whose presence breaks the mould of the LIV archetype, allowing the league to change its narrative and perception.

So what does that say about Rahm?

It’s worth repeating: Rahm is a good, solid dude. That does not change the sentiment that you are the company that you keep, and by joining LIV, Rahm—in the eyes of LIV and Saudi critics—is becoming a frontman for a problematic kingdom.

However, without condemning or condoning Rahm or any future player who makes the jump, it’s worth considering that Saudi money could be infused to the PGA Tour. There’s a difference between running to it versus it running to you, and that’s certainly a nuanced conversation, but you don’t have to look too hard to see the mental gymnastics that could be at play with such a decision.

Would this mean no more Ryder Cup for Rahm?

Not quite. Most European LIV players surrendered their DP World Tour membership when joining LIV, thus making them ineligible for the biennial event. It is unknown if the European circuit gave its blessing for the decision (although sources tell Golf Digest that Rahm’s camp has used back channels asking for assurance), but with the PGA and DP World Tours in discussions with PIF, Rahm and LIV Golf players would likely be eligible for 2025 as long as they have DP World Tour membership.

Hold on, I thought the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia are joining forces?

Right, about that. Those negotiations remain ongoing, with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Saudi Arabia’s PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan meeting this week. It’s also no secret that several companies are vying to provide financial backing to the tour, calling into question if the PIF deal will ultimately come to fruition.

Chris Condon

What would a Rahm departure mean for the deal?

Sources tell Golf Digest that PIF looks at Rahm as a bargaining chip amid worries the PGA Tour will ultimately walk away from the proposed framework agreement, the belief being that the tour could not afford to lose someone as valuable as Rahm. So, there is a possibility this gives LIV an upper hand and ensures a deal happens. The problem, sources tell Golf Digest, is that a number of highly prominent voices inside the tour look at a Rahm poaching as a casus belli, ending this period of detente and reigniting professional golf’s civil war.

Wasn’t there a no-poaching clause in the framework agreement?

There was, but both sides ended up sidelining it due to antitrust regulations.

Haven’t there been false LIV rumours and predictions before?

Too many to count, like the time LIV CEO Greg Norman said he was targeting seven top-20 players to add to its roster before the 2023 season, only to add Thomas Pieters, Mito Pereira, Dean Burmester, Sebastian Munoz, Brendan Steele and Danny Lee. Or when everyone thought Hideki Matsuyama had signed with LIV in 2022. Or that Adam Scott was leaving after the 2022 Presidents Cup. Or that Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele were gone after this year’s Ryder Cup. Or … you get the gist.

So, this could all be rubbish?

Maybe, but it could very much happen! While Rahm has denied LIV rumours in the past—and thus, we should give him the benefit of the doubt—this one certainly feels different, and his camp has been radio silent to almost everyone (including fellow tour players) inquiring what’s going on. Adding to speculation is Rahm pulling out of TGL (before the league was postponed a year), and that he was not listed in the American Express’ field of notables, a tournament which he won in 2023.

Any chance Rahm stays with the PGA Tour?

Well, the tour is adding more bathrooms at Rahm’s behest, which doesn’t hurt.

What would a Rahm departure mean for golf?

A Rahm defection not only gives LIV formidability at a point where it desperately needs some vigour, it could be the bridge for other stars to follow. True, the same thing was said about Koepka, and Dustin Johnson, and Cam Smith … but the game is at a crossroads and Rahm’s decision could decide which road the professional sport will travel. The PGA Tour will go on, but a tour without Rahm is a tour that is weakened. That doesn’t mean LIV Golf wins its battle against the PGA Tour. It just means the battle continues, which, for the rest of golf, sure feels like a loss.

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There was speculation on that front last week when Rahm announced he would not participate in the new TGL enterprise formed by McIlroy and Tiger Woods that features teams competing in a golf simulator format. Rahm was originally among the 24 players who agreed to play.

On Monday, McIlroy made an appearance at a press conference for his TGL team, Boston Common, and told reporters he is convinced that Rahm, a two-time major winner and reigning Masters champion, has no interest in going to LIV.

“I spoke to Jon a couple days ago and would be very, very surprised if that were to happen,” McIlroy said. “I’m pretty confident Jon is a PGA Tour player.”

Rahm has yet to dispel the rumours about any potential departure to the Saudi Arabia-funded league since his TGL announcement last Thursday, when he wrote on social media: “I am sad to confirm that I will not be participating in the first TGL season. While I still think it’s a great opportunity, right now it would require a level of commitment that I can’t offer. Best of luck to everyone [involved] and may the best team win!”

The TGL responded with a statement, saying they “understand that players have to balance a lot of different facets of their professional and personal lives and respect Jon’s choice and wish him well”.

Rahm, an 11-time PGA Tour winner, has professed his devotion to the US-based circuit a number of times since LIV Golf was formed.

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