Spanish golfer Jon Rahm has joined the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf tour, LIV announced Thursday evening.
“I am proud to join LIV Golf and be part of something new that is bringing growth to the sport,” Rahm said in a press release. “I have no doubt that this is a great opportunity for me and my family and am very excited for the future.”
News of the move was first reported in The Wall Street Journal.
The reigning Masters champion had pledged his allegiance to the PGA Tour multiple times during the past 18 months since LIV started luring players with large bonuses—$100 million-plus, in the cases of Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson. Rahm would likely command the largest LIV payday yet, and his defection from the PGA Tour will likely shake the industry, as the Dec. 31 deadline approaches for the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and DP World Tour to hammer out their agreement to join forces. The sides remain far apart on finalizing their commercial deal.
Speculation on Rahm’s move swirled over the last few weeks as he dropped out of TGL, the Monday night virtual golf league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. He also was not listed as an entrant in next month’s American Express event in La Quinta, Calif., an event he’s won twice, including last season. Mickelson’s brother, Tim, was Rahm’s college golf coach at Arizona State and his first agent.
Rahm, one of the Tour’s most popular players, is currently third in the Official World Golf Rankings. He finished third in the 2023 Player Impact Program behind McIlroy and Woods and pocketed $8 million as a result. The $100 million PIP fund is intended to reward players who drive the most fan engagement and business for the tour.
In July, Rahm signed a long-term extension with Callaway that included an equity position in Topgolf Callaway Brands. He also reached multiyear sponsorship deals with Banco Santander and Blue Yonder. Other sponsors include TravisMathew, Rolex, Mercedes-Benz, Maestro Dobel and Silverleaf Club.
Rahm has won $51.5 million in prize money since he turned pro in 2016. He reached the No. 1 ranking in golf in 2020 and has been on top a total of 52 weeks since then. In 2021, he became the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Open.
When the global golf tours first announced their agreement in June, there were some who thought that LIV would not exist in 2024. Signing Rahm is the clearest sign yet that LIV is part of golf’s future.
“LIV Golf is here to stay,” Lawrence Burian, LIV Golf chief operating officer, said in the press release. “The addition of Jon reemphasizes that our league is not slowing down.”
(This story has been updated in the headline and first three paragraphs with the official announcement of Rahm’s move.)
