Jon Rahm of Spain celebrates making a putt for birdie on the 18th green in the course of the final round of the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) on June 20, 2021 in San Diego, California.
Sean M. Haffey | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images
Golf superstar Jon Rahm officially signed on with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league Thursday in an industry-shocking departure from the PGA Tour. The announcement follows quite a few reports that indicated Rahm was gearing as much as log out on the deal.
Rahm, who won the Masters in April and is ranked No. 3 on the earth, told Fox Latest’s Brett Baier on Thursday, “The expansion that LIV Golf has dropped at the sport is something with a ton of potential and something I’m really enthusiastic about.”
“I am unable to comment on that, private business,” Rahm added in response to speculation regarding the reported price tag of the deal.
The move is the newest blockbuster development within the long and tumultuous saga of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. The 2 leagues face a Dec. 31 deadline to make a decision the fate of their proposed combination.
The golf world is rife with speculation that the take care of Rahm might be a part of a method by LIV to pressure the PGA Tour into signing off on the merger.
When asked for comment, LIV Golf referred CNBC to the announcement made Thursday.
ESPN reported Thursday that the take care of Rahm could extend beyond three years and is value greater than $300 million. By comparison, former PGA golfer Phil Mickelson inked a take care of LIV in 2022 for $200 million. Rahm may be getting an ownership stake in a latest team on the league as LIV recruits additional PGA Tour players, ESPN added.
Last month, PGA announced that its league members would get the chance to take an ownership stake in the brand new company formed after the completion of the PGA-LIV Golf merger.
LIV has repeatedly poached PGA players, creating a specific point of contention for other golfers in the game. Rory McIlroy, the world’s No. 2 player, said in July that he would retire if LIV Golf was “the last place to play golf on earth.”
The PGA Tour declined to comment on news of a take care of Rahm. An agency that has represented Rahm also declined to comment. One other firm representing Rahm didn’t immediately reply to a request.
The Wall Street Journal first reported that Rahm was working on a take care of LIV.
