Renowned coach Butch Harmon has expressed optimism over Jon Rahm’s recent decision to leave the PGA Tour and join LIV Golf, speculating that this move could bridge the existing divide between the two entities. This development comes amid a contentious period, characterized by LIV Golf attracting several high-profile players from the PGA Tour. Rahm, who recently clinched the prestigious Masters championship, has reportedly inked a deal with LIV Golf amounting to a staggering £450 million.
As the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia engage in negotiations to resolve their ongoing dispute, the impending December 31 deadline looms over the uncertain fate of this rift. Furthermore, the recent departure of Rahm to LIV Golf holds the potential to have far-reaching consequences, having prompted both entities to initially agree to refrain from poaching each other’s players, before abandoning this pact following the intervention of the U.S. Justice Department due to antitrust concerns.
In the wake of the controversy surrounding Rahm’s departure, Butch Harmon, a veteran coach with a distinguished career working alongside the iconic Tiger Woods, expressed his belief that the massive £450 million deal could serve as a catalyst for reconciliation between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. Harmon voiced his sentiments to Sky Sports, emphasising the possibility of these developments paving the way for the convergence of the two rival organizations.
Harmon stated, “I think the more you see some of these players defect to the LIV tournament, it’s going to make it easier for everyone to get back together again. This may be the start of making that happen. I think they’re going to have to push to get the PGA Tour together with LIV, and the DP World Tour, get them to talk and try to figure out a way for them to all live happily together.”
Adding weight to his stance, Harmon underscored the potential for players from the European Tour and the American tour to switch back and forth between the two circuits, depicting a vision of cohesion and collaboration. Despite prior assurances that such a scenario would never materialize, the departure of Rahm has nudged these organizations closer to a potential convergence, offering fans hope of witnessing their favourite players competing in unison.
The subsequent repercussion of these schisms has been the PGA Tour issuing suspensions to those who opt to partake in the LIV circuit, with prominent figures such as Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Brooks Koepka facing bans. It is widely anticipated that Rahm may be subjected to a similar fate, despite his fervent hope to continue participating in both the PGA Tour and LIV, alongside the DP World Tour in the future.
In response to his groundbreaking move, Rahm conveyed his desire to uphold his status in both the PGA Tour and DPWT, expressing his hope of navigating a schedule that would enable him to partake in select PGA Tour events while embracing the freedom afforded by LIV Golf. He articulated, “Hopefully with the freedom LIV gives me I can play both those tours. There are certain PGA Tour events I want to play as long as my schedule allows. If possible, I want to make that happen.”
The landscape of professional golf is undoubtedly experiencing a seismic shift, and Rahm’s pivotal move to LIV Golf may indeed serve as the harbinger of a testament to a newfound era of collaboration and unity within the sport.