The recent announcement of Jon Rahm’s decision to join LIV Golf has generated significant interest, with reports indicating that he is set to receive a substantial sum of £450 million from the agreement. This figure is particularly noteworthy when compared to the career earnings of renowned golfer Tiger Woods.
Rahm’s move to the competing tour, which is supported by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, has caused surprise within the golfing community. His choice comes at a time when the PGA Tour and the Europe Ryder Cup team are facing significant setbacks. Rahm’s absence from the roster of a recent PGA Tour event further fuelled speculation about his imminent transition.
The negotiations for Rahm’s contract were led by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, PIF, which is also the owner of Newcastle United. The agreement is said to include a guaranteed payment of £240 million for a five-year commitment, which is double the amount received by former World No. 1 Dustin Johnson and triple that of Brooks Koepka when they departed from the PGA Tour in 2021.
Perhaps most striking is the revelation that Rahm’s earnings from LIV Golf could exceed the total prize money earned by Tiger Woods throughout his illustrious career. Woods, a 15-time major winner and the highest-earning golfer in history, has earned approximately £96 million from 82 PGA Tour victories. In addition to his guaranteed payment, Rahm is also expected to receive a stake in his own franchise within the team-based league, which could potentially be worth an additional £200 million.
Rahm’s decision to join LIV Golf represents a significant departure from his previous stance on the issue. Despite expressing a strong commitment to the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, Rahm has chosen to embrace this new opportunity. His statements from last year, in which he emphasized that financial gain was not his primary motivation for playing golf, stand in stark contrast to his recent decision to join LIV Golf.
The unexpected possibility of a merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, which was disclosed in June, has undoubtedly left players like Rahm feeling disillusioned. With ongoing discussions between PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the future of professional golf hangs in the balance.
As the situation continues to develop, the impact of Rahm’s move and the potential merger between the two tours remain a subject of widespread discussion within the golfing world. It is evident that these developments have the potential to reshape the landscape of professional golf and usher in a new era for the sport.