Jon Rahm, the reigning Masters champion and a two-time major winner, has bolted for the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League for what’s believed to be more money than the PGA Tour’s entire prize fund for a single year.
It’s a stunning blow that deepens the divide in professional golf as the two sides were negotiating a commercial deal.
Rahm confirmed the move Thursday night in an interview with Fox News. Wearing a black letterman’s jacket with the LIV logo, the 29-year-old Spaniard said it was not an easy decision.
“I’ve been very happy,” Rahm said. “But there is a lot of things that LIV Golf has to offer that were very enticing.”
He said he would keep private how much the deal was worth amid reports that put his compensation in the $500 million range, which likely would include equity in his new team. The PGA Tour’s total purse in 2023 was about $460 million.