GOLF
What did Fred Couples say about Jon Rahm and the LIV Tour?
The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) reportedly offered Rahm over $400 million to join LIV Golf. As a result, Couples had this reaction.
Fred Couples is a successful professional golfer recognized for his smooth and effortless swing, earning him the nickname “Boom Boom” for his powerful drives. He was born on October 3, 1959, in Seattle, Washington, and has achieved renowned success throughout his career in the sport.
One of Fred Couples’ most significant accomplishments was winning the 1992 Masters Tournament, where he won the green jacket at Augusta National Golf Club. Couples have also been involved in team events such as the Ryder Cup, representing the United States. Recently, he has served as one of the assistant captains for Team USA and as a golf pundit and consultant in the media.
Fred Couples on Jon Rahm and LIV
It is well-known that Couples is not a fan of LIV Golf. Following Jon Rahm’s addition to the Saudi-backed circuit, the 15-time PGA Tour winner emphasized these feelings on his radio show, “The Fred Couples Show with Fred Couples & George Downing.”
“I wanna see the next superstar say, ‘I’m going to that LIV. You know why I am going? Because it is unreal. They play Riviera, TPC [Scottsdale] in front of 300,000 people. They do this, they do that.’ But I want them to go for free. But then go on CNN and every TV show and say why they are going because it is that good,” Couples said.
“$100 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 is a great show... my ass,” finished of Couples.
The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) has invested over $1 billion to create LIV Golf, a new professional golf league. They have offered several major champions, including Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, and Jon Rahm, lucrative deals to join their league instead of the PGA Tour.
This move has proven successful for the PIF, as they are now negotiating with the PGA Tour to reshape the structure of men’s professional golf. The deadline for these talks is December 31, 2023.
Fred Couples has argued that anyone who joins LIV Golf has done so for the money and not for the competition’s quality and excitement, suggesting that it is the primary motivation for players to switch leagues.