Over the past few months, the number of players defecting from the PGA Tour to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit has certainly decreased, especially following the announcement of an incoming alliance between the two leagues. But it looks like LIV is on the verge of pulling off yet another major coup.
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Jon Rahm is expected to leave the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf.
“Reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm is set to leave the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed LIV Golf in an industry-rattling deal that stands to inject fresh uncertainty into the future of an already topsy-turvy sport,” the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday morning. “A deal for Rahm is expected to be announced this week, people familiar with the matter said, assuming talks don’t fall apart.”
Rahm is currently ranked No. 3 in the world. According to the Wall Street Journal, the multi-year LIV Golf contract is “among the richest that LIV has offered to date” and would pay him more money than the entire 2023 PGA Tour prize pool.
Obviously, this is absolutely massive world in the golf world, and it led to a lot of reactions on social media as a result.
Telegraph and the WSJ are both reporting that Jon Rahm will be joining LIV Golf as early as this week.
The reigning masters champion would get over $500 million — more than the entire 2023 PGA Tour prize pool.
That's a huge blow to the PGA Tour, especially with their December… pic.twitter.com/DWVG3gLD42
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) December 7, 2023
If Jon Rahm was to stay on the PGA Tour and win every tournament he plays in for multiple years in a row, he'd still make less per year than his reported LIV contract will be worth per/yr. This doesn't even factor the added team win and other BS perks they will throw on top.
— Martin McSports (@MartinMcSports) December 7, 2023
Jon Rahm earned $16.5M in 2023 on the PGA Tour, stemming from 4 wins, 2 2nd place finishes, & a third place finish.
He's earned $77.2M in his career since 2016.
Now he'll accept a pact with the LIV Tour that pays out between $500M-$600M, which seems like a decent pay raise.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) December 7, 2023
Jon Rahm is set to earn at least 6x more in his deal with LIV Golf than he's earned in his entire career on the PGA Tour.https://t.co/nAFSfGXBXN pic.twitter.com/ohA57n7qvF
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) December 7, 2023
Jon Rahm has secured the bag 💰
His reported $500M contract is more than the prize pool for the entire PGA Tour. pic.twitter.com/pEDMfEMFf8
— Covers (@Covers) December 7, 2023
It’s a pretty massive payday for Rahm.
[Wall Street Journal]
