Jon Rahm's entitled plea to PGA Tour shows LIV Golf defectors are tough to like - Analysis by Stuart Ballard

Jon Rahm's entitled plea to PGA Tour shows LIV Golf defectors are tough to like - Analysis by Stuart Ballard

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Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 07/02/2024

- 11:29

COMMENT: Jon Rahm - one of the most popular and likeable characters in golf - has fallen into the same trap as LIV Golfers before him.

Jon Rahm is only one tournament into his new career with LIV Golf but he's already joined the insufferable and entitled plea of his peers to have their huge expensive cake and eat it.

The Spaniard's switch to the Saudi-backed league appeared to change the narrative on golfers taking the huge sums on offer to sign up for the rival golf tour.


The likes of Phil Mickelson and Greg Norman were ridiculed and ostracised for selling their souls in taking the money to help set up LIV three years ago.

Rory McIlroy originally led the fight against Mickelson and co for creating a civil war in the sport that still rages on to this day.

Jon Rahm wants a route back to some PGA Tour events

Jon Rahm wants a route back to some PGA Tour events

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But those arguments against players departing for LIV have softened since Rahm signed on the dotted line for £450million.

Who's to begrudge anyone setting themselves and their family up for generations to come?

All the power to them and congratulations on a smart business move.

But they all know the current consequences when signing up too.

Rahm is now banned from competing in PGA Tour events after signing up for the LIV Golf League.

That may change if the PGA merges with LIV, but it's a BIG maybe and is highlighted this week when the Phoenix Open gets underway while the Saudi-backed tour travels to Las Vegas.

And Rahm has become the latest LIV Golf player to begin dreaming of gaining an invite back to certain PGA Tour events in the future.

"Driving by Phoenix as often as I had to and knowing that I wasn't going to play there, it's definitely emotional," he said.

"That's one of the things that I'm going to miss. I'm hoping that in the near future I can be back playing some of those events. I would certainly love to go back and play some of them.”

Those comments are only likely to rile up his former peers on the PGA Tour, with the majority holding the belief that LIV Golfers must face consequences for departing.

Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas have admitted they'd "have a problem" with the likes of Rahm returning.

Jon Rahm made his LIV Golf debut last week

Jon Rahm made his LIV Golf debut last week

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Jose Maria Olazabal believes there should be consequences and even suggested the Ryder Cup should remain off-limits to LIV Golfers.

“I respect everyone who has gone to LIV Golf,” Olazabal said.

“The other part that bothers me is that if you make a decision, it must have consequences. You can’t expect to have the same rights as PGA Tour and DP World Tour players.

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“As for changing the rules for Ryder Cup Europe… I don’t know what to tell you. If you miss players like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, you could be left naked for one or two Ryder Cups. And? What if you suddenly get three Ludvig Abergs, the Hjogaard [twins]? Turns out we might be able to compete.”

Rahm remains one of the most popular figures in golf and his departure to LIV is a massive blow to PGA Tour events.

There probably will be a time when PGA Tour and LIV Golf players can interchange between the two leagues with fans ultimately missing out the most with players like Rahm, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau not playing this week in Phoenix.

But it's hard not to roll your eyes at the entitlement on show from LIV Golfers believing they have a divine right to play in events they were happy to ignore when the Saudi riches were put in front of them.

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