After weeks of rumors, PGA Tour superstar Jon Rahm is reportedly taking his talents to rivals LIV Golf in what is an earth-shattering move in the golf world.
For the last few weeks, the rumblings that Jon Rahm could do the unthinkable by turning his back on the PGA for the very green pastures of LIV have intensified. Those around the sport claimed that the Saudi Arabia-backed league had given him an offer he might not be able to refuse and speculation suggesting it could be for as much as $600 million.
Yet, there was some doubt on if the two-time major winner would actually take the deal. Fellow superstar Rory McIlroy reportedly passed on a massive offer from the wealthy league, and PGA Tour legend Tiger Woods was also pursued by LIV before its first season in 2022. Many felt confident Rahm would follow suit and show loyalty to the legendary PGA since he had done so in the past publicly.
Well, that does not seem to be the case. On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal broke the news that a deal has been reached between Rahm and LIV and he is expected to be with the upstart tour when they start their 2024 season in February. The contract is for only three years worth more than $300 million. The pact will also include an ownership stake for Rahm in a new LIV Golf League team.
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The 2023 Masters winner, and the player currently ranked third in the world leaving the PGA is a stunning moment in golf, especially since the two tours had apparently ended their rivalry earlier this year after announcing plans for a merger. So, what does Rahm’s decision mean for that agreement and could he open the doors to an all-new exodus of Tour stars to LIV Golf in 2024 and beyond?
What does Jon Rahm’s defection mean for PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger plans?
Earlier this year, it seemed like the PGA Tour and LIV Golf war was over. The two leagues — as well as DP World Tour — had ended their ongoing litigation and were set to bring all the best golfers in the world back together. However, the agreement was met with a great deal of blowback from PGA players and the United States Congress.
As the months have passed, a deal has seemed no closer to happening. And with a December deadline, various reports have claimed a merger is dead or dying. If all was good and a finalized deal was expected to be announced, there would be no reason for LIV to pursue Rahm since he could eventually compete for them under far more affordable terms following a merger.
However, this ground-breaking deal sends a clear message that the three tours will not be going forward with a planned merger in 2024 after all. Furthermore, there has been a lot of evidence that a deal was unlikely after reports of the parent companies of UFC, WWE, and the Boston Red Sox had made investment offers to the PGA Tour.
While some assumed those investments would be made to appease Congress, they more likely will be used to give the Tour the sort of financial might it would need to compete with LIV’s massive wealth when the battle between the two leagues restarts next year.
Related: LIV Golf – 10 PGA stars that have left for the Saudi-backed league
Who could be the next PGA stars to switch to LIV?
If a merger does not come to fruition, more stars from the PGA could follow the likes of Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and now Rahm to LIV. The two-year old league has the backing of an investment fund with billions at its disposal and if a merger fails they could be going for the jugular to put the PGA out of business during this decade.
With that in mind here are three players that could be the next notable golfers to defect from the Tour.
Jason Day
LIV is a league that travels all over the world, and Aussie Jason Day would be a very nice addition since they do events in Australia each year. He is ranked 19 in the world and has won 13 PGA events during a career that began in 2008. He is the type of player that is a notable name and is at a point in his career where he could be seeking out bigger pay days than more wins on the Tour.
Adam Scott
At 43 years old, Australian Adam Scott is a perfect target for LIV. He is no longer a top star in the PGA and would certainly welcome a huge payday to drop in his bank account as he sees retirement in the near future. He and countryman Jason Day reportedly were both interested in a possible move to LIV earlier this year.
Xander Schauffele
While it might not be likely, if LIV really wanted to go for a killer blow on the PGA, pursuing sixth ranked golfer Xander Schauffele would be a major move. He is in the prime of his career and is a player that likely would prefer to stay loyal to the Tour.
However, with the sort of money Rahm got, throwing similar numbers at Schauffele is very possible since LIV has the disposable funds and he would give them another top-five talent in their prime.