Jon Rahm in August: “LIV contacted me, and I sent them to my manager”

During an episode of the Golf Sin Etiquetas podcast in August, Jon Rahm discussed his relationship with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan following agreements with LIV. Rahm, who placed second in the British Open, spent two hours chatting with former tour professional Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño and Alejandro Larrazábal, brother of professional golfer Pablo Larrazábal. The conversation revolved around topics such as the 2023 season, which has been one of their best, the Ryder Cup, and Rahm’s relationship with LIV after the latest agreements between the tournament owned by Arab investors and the PGA.

According to the Basque golfer, he was contacted by LIV in June 2022 while in Mexico. However, Rahm was displeased with the approach of the LIV CEO, Greg Norman, regarding his signing. As a result, he directed Norman to speak with his representative instead: “Instead of convincing me with the history of golf, with what I love, he began to send me numbers, numbers, and numbers. And my response was, ‘Talk to my manager,’ and we’ll talk in the future. It was the only time I spoke to him about it. In turn, I told my manager that this does not appeal to me,“ the four-time winner this year on the PGA Tour circuit commented on the podcast.

Rahm expressed satisfaction with the agreements made between LIV, DP World Tour, and PGA. According to the Spanish golfer in August, the agreements had led to improvements in both the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.

“Hopefully, with all this capital that can come, we can create a PGA Tour that is better for everyone, that the tournament week is better, that the gym is better, that there is a recovery area, that the physical therapists have better conditions, that the food is more consistent and the best of all (week after week), that there is a charter flight for the players (between the weeks of each tournament), that having the PGA Tour card implies that you have a minimum of money so that you can make your life as a golfer,” Rahm said in August. “I say the latter because the fact that you can lose money on the PGA Tour by being in the top 150 is criminal. And I’ve told the PGA Tour many times. There are a lot of things that could be improved other than money for FedEx and whatever. And for the DP World Tour, I think the same thinking about those who want to continue playing at home, with a better tour. Now, I have no idea what they want. And I hope that whatever they want doesn’t conflict with this. And I’m not the only one who thinks so. I understand the majority of those who went to the LIV”, Rahmbo said.

“I have not lost confidence in Monahan”

Although Rahm viewed the deal positively in August, he mentioned that PGA Tour CEO Jay Monahan and DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley need to regain players’ trust. However, he clarified that he has a good relationship with Monahan and trusts him as the CEO of the PGA.

This implies a shift in stance compared to what was stated during the British Open. “Jay has been so professional and nice to me and my family,” Rahm said in Hoylake. “In that sense, he is a good man. Now, regarding what he’s been doing for us and the PGA Tour, I think he’s done a fantastic job. I would say that it was unexpected what happened. The turn they took without us knowing was unexpected, but I still think he’s been doing a great job. And at this moment, after that happened, I think it’s fair to give them adequate time to resolve things, plus they still have my confidence, but, normally, they have to recover that of some players on the circuit,” he told the presenters in August 2023.

Rahm to LIV? We’ll have to wait and see

“In recent days Phil has been telling folks that Rahm signing with LIV is a done deal. (They share the same agent.) But we all know Mickelson is a relentless salesman/bullshit artist, so take that for what it’s worth,” said golf reporter Alan Shipnuck in a tweet on Nov. 22, 2023.

Only Jon Rahm knows what the situation is. We’ll have to wait to hear from him soon.