According to Kyle Porter of CBS Sports on Thursday, Jon Rahm of Barrika, Spain is leaving the PGA Tour for the LIV Tour starting in 2024. Rahm is just the latest golf superstar to join the LIV. He joins fellow major winners Brooks Kopeka of West Palm Beach, Florida, Dustin Johnson of Columbia, South Carolina, Sergio Garcia of Borriol, Spain, Martin Kaymer of Dusseldorf, Germany, Phil Mickelson of San Diego, California, Louis Oosthuizen of Mossel Bay, South Africa, Graeme McDowell of Portrush, Northern Ireland, Charl Schwartzel of Johannesburg, South Africa, Bubba Watson of Bagdad, Florida, Henrik Stenson of Gothenburg, Sweden, and Cameron Smith of Brisbane, Australia.
Rahm is a two-time major winner himself. He has won the 2021 United States Open and the 2023 Masters. Rahm was one of two major winners in 2023 on the LIV Tour. The other was Koepka, who won the PGA Championship.
There is no doubt the signing of Rahm is a major win for the LIV Tour. Early indications are that Rahm’s deal is worth $500 million according to Leocciano Callao of the Daily Mail on Thursday.
Rahm is also currently third in the world, only behind Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. In all, Rahm has won 11 PGA Tour titles, including four titles in 2023. In addition to the Masters, he won the Tournament of Champions, the American Express, and Genesis Invitational.
The signing of Rahm by the LIV Tour enhances the division that is occurring at the moment in world golf. According to Rick Broadbent of The Times, Rahm believed he was betrayed by the PGA Tour, and led to his decision to switch. As a result, he has been portrayed by many as a hypocrite because he has previously expressed his commitment to the PGA Tour.
