Golf

Jon Rahm’s potential LIV deal reported to be worth over €550m

Two-time Major winner from Spain has been a key target of the Saudi-backed league

Jon Rahm has been a key target of the LIV Golf tour and a reported deal worth over €550 million is believed to be on the table. Photograph: Oisín Keniry/Getty Images
Jon Rahm has been a key target of the LIV Golf tour and a reported deal worth over €550 million is believed to be on the table. Photograph: Oisín Keniry/Getty Images
Thu Dec 07 2023 - 18:47

Two-time Major champion Jon Rahm is expected to sign a large deal to join LIV Golf, another hit for the PGA Tour as it races the clock to finalise an agreement to ally with the Saudi-backed league, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

LIV has already enticed Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and others from the PGA Tour with huge pay-days, but adding Rahm – the No 3 player in the world and an immensely popular player among fans – would be a severe hit for the tour.

The Wall Street Journal reported the Rahm defection could be announced this week. While the report didn’t estimate a value for the deal, the Daily Mail said moving to LIV could earn Rahm a $600 million (€555 million) contract.

Earlier this year, the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia announced an agreement to join forces, and there’s a December 31st deadline to seal the deal. How Rahm joining LIV’s roster will impact the alliance isn’t clear.

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Rahm, 29, won the 2021 US Open and the 2023 Masters, two of his 11 PGA Tour victories. He completed his most successful season this year, winning four events.

The Spaniard, who helped Europe win the Ryder Cup, has career earnings on tour of $51.5 million (€47.66 million) since joining in 2016. His rumoured LIV contract would dwarf that amount.

Since the emergence of LIV Golf in 2022, Rahm has been one of the PGA Tour's staunchest supporters and has spoken critically of LIV.

Perhaps with an eye toward joining LIV, however, Rahm recently pulled out of the Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy-led TGL virtual golf league and has yet to commit to playing in January in the American Express in La Quinta, California, where he is the defending champion.

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