Jon Rahm has dedicated to affix the LIV Golf League from subsequent season; Reigning Masters champion and Ryder Cup star is the most recent participant to decide to the Saudi-backed circuit, having received 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 at risk of ‘cannibalising itself’ and turning into much less related inside sport after Jon Rahm grew to become the most recent high-profile participant to affix the LIV Golf League.
Rahm ended weeks of hypothesis about his {golfing} future by confirming he would be part of the Saudi-backed circuit from subsequent season, with the reigning Masters champion arguably their largest signing thus far since their launch final summer season.
The Spaniard’s swap 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 interchange Rory McIlroy on the PGA Tour board, insisting he is ‘not constructed for it’
Rahm might be a part of a LIV Golf line-up that accommodates Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Sergio Garcia, with McIlroy cautious of the impression that additional new arrivals at LIV Golf may have on the broader sport.
“My fear is that we continue down this path where we have competing tours and it divides the eyeballs that are on the game,” McIlroy solely advised Sky Sports activities. “Some people like LIV, the majority of people like the PGA Tour, but if LIV start to take a few players each and every year it’s really going to be divided and that’s no good for anyone.
Jon Rahm has joined LIV Golf League from subsequent season
“You are mainly cannibalising your self as a sport, form of the identical as what boxing has finished with all of the completely different organisations and some different sports activities have as nicely. To me, having all the very best golfers underneath the one umbrella is one of the simplest ways ahead as a result of I feel that is actually what the general public desires.
“The majors are already so big, but my fear is that if we keep going down this path then all the best players are only going to get together four times a year. That means golf is only going to be relevant four times a year and that’s good for no one in the game.
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Rory McIlroy explains his decision to resign from the PGA Tour board in November
“We have to get everybody again collectively and attempt to neglect about what has occurred prior to now. Let bygones be bygones and all of us transfer ahead collectively – I feel that is what is going on to be the very best factor for the skilled sport.”
Time for Ryder Cup change?
Rahm has featured in Europe’s last three Ryder Cup teams and was a key part of their victory in Rome earlier this year, finishing unbeaten in his four matches as Europe ran out 16.5-11.5 winners, although the switch to LIV Golf could make future appearances more challenging.
Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson were all ruled out of consideration to feature in 2023 because of joining LIV Golf, but McIlroy believes Rahm’s switch could signal the need to change to Ryder Cup qualification for the next edition.
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The best of the action from day three of the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Italy
“Jon [Rahm] goes to be in Bethpage in 2025 so, due to this determination, the European Tour are going to must rewrite the principles for Ryder Cup eligibility,” McIlroy explained. “There’s completely no query about that – I actually need Jon Rahm on the subsequent Ryder Cup staff.
“I’m going to miss competing against him week in, week out. He has got so much talent, he’s so tenacious and he’s a great team-mate 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.
“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 leap from the PGA Tour to LIV a bit 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 yr that LIV Golf gamers won’t be able to earn world rating factors
“They let the first guys really take the heat and then this framework agreement legitimised basically what LIV was trying to do, then I think it’s made it easier now if that’s really what you want to do.
“My opinion now could be and there is just one nice staff occasion in golf and that is the Ryder Cup and that is by no means going to alter. But when the general public desires some extra staff competitors, then you understand you need to cater for what the general public calls for.”
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