Jon Rahm Responds Strongly to LIV Golf Regret Rumors
Amid circulating rumors that Jon Rahm regretted his offseason switch to LIV Golf, the Spanish golfer has vehemently denied any such claims, asserting that they hold "zero validity."
Rahm, a former Masters and U.S. Open champion, was one of the most notable players to join the Saudi Arabia-funded LIV Golf league this offseason. Since making the move, he has faced challenges in maintaining the form that saw him ranked as the world’s No. 1 golfer in 2023. Despite this, rumors suggesting that Rahm wished to return to the PGA Tour have surfaced, with some even claiming he would refund his signing bonus to make it happen.
"There’s zero validity to what any of that said," Rahm told the New York Post. "I don’t know where it came from. I don’t know why they feel the need to say that some of us are unhappy when we’re not. It’s one of the things that frustrates me a little bit, the fact that they can claim that there’s a source and there’s zero truth to it.”
The rumors appear to have originated from an in-depth profile in Golf Digest+ magazine, where a "veteran tour insider" was cited as being "100 percent confident" that Rahm would return to the PGA Tour if given the chance. This speculation has brought into question Rahm's commitment to building a lasting legacy within the sport, a characteristic he was known for during his time on the PGA Tour, where his passion for golf won him many fans.
A native of the Basque region in Spain, Rahm came to the United States in 2012 to play college golf at Arizona State University, where he won 11 tournaments and became the first two-time winner of the Ben Hogan Award, which honors the best collegiate golfer in the nation. He turned professional after his senior season and quickly made his mark, winning his first PGA Tour event in 2017 in San Diego.
By 2023, Rahm was well on his way to establishing a significant legacy in golf. He won his second major tournament, the Masters, by beating Brooks Koepka by four strokes, and narrowly missed out on victory at the British Open that same year. His stay at world No. 1 extended to 52 weeks, and during this time, he was vocal in his support for the PGA Tour, even as many of his peers chose to join LIV Golf.
In 2023, Rahm made his stance clear: "I am officially declaring my fealty to the PGA Tour. I'm a PAC member, and I have a lot of belief in Jay Monahan and the product that they're going to give us in the future. There has been a lot of talk and speculation about the Saudi League. It's just not something I believe is the best for me and my future in golf, and I think the best legacy I can accomplish will be with the PGA Tour."
Rahm’s strong response to the recent rumors reaffirms his commitment to LIV Golf