Jon Rahm finally cracks as LIV Golf rebel ‘willing to give Saudi cash back’ in U-turn

Jon Rahm Reportedly Regrets LIV Golf Move and Eyes PGA Tour Return

Jon Rahm, the prominent golfer who made headlines with his controversial switch to LIV Golf last year, is allegedly reconsidering his decision and is willing to take drastic steps to return to the PGA Tour, according to recent claims.

Rahm, who left the PGA Tour to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, may even be prepared to refund a portion of his lucrative signing bonus to rejoin the ranks of PGA stars like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. A “veteran tour insider” shared with Golf Digest that Rahm is experiencing deep regret over his move.

“I am 100 percent positive that if Jon could give the money back to the Saudis and come back to the tour, he couldn’t write the check fast enough,” the source stated.

Prior to his departure, Rahm was a dominant force on the PGA Tour, amassing over $70 million (£54 million) in career earnings and holding the prestigious World No.1 spot for more than 50 weeks. His achievements include 11 PGA Tour victories, highlighted by wins at the Masters and the US Open.

However, since his transition to LIV Golf in 2023, Rahm’s performances and popularity have noticeably declined. The anonymous insider emphasized that Rahm’s current situation is far from what he had envisioned. “Now there are only four times a year when he’s playing that anybody is remotely interested,” the insider added. “He thought his stature in the game was secure no matter where he was playing, and it was a bad miscalculation.”

Rahm’s recent struggles in major tournaments have further fueled speculation about his dissatisfaction with LIV Golf. Despite a respectable seventh-place finish at last month’s Open, Rahm has otherwise had a tough year. He barely made the cut at the Masters, finishing T45, missed the cut at the PGA Championship, and had to withdraw from the US Open due to a foot infection.

Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley previously suggested that Rahm’s underwhelming performances could be linked to his rumored dissatisfaction with LIV Golf. Rahm was reportedly signed by LIV Golf for a staggering sum of around $500 million (£386.3 million), but his decision has not yielded the expected results.

“He’s not on the cutting edge the way he was,” McGinley remarked. “His performances in majors are showing that. I don’t think he’s in a happy place; he doesn’t look content on the golf course.”

Rahm’s early 2024 performances have been similarly underwhelming, as he failed to secure a win in the first 10 LIV events. Despite tying for third in Adelaide and Nashville, his breakthrough came last month with a victory at the LIV UK tournament, extending his streak of winning at least one tournament per year to eight years.

In addition to his on-course struggles, Rahm has voiced his concerns about LIV Golf’s format. In April, he called for changes to the event structure, advocating for a shift from the 54-hole tournaments with a shotgun start to the traditional 72-hole format. “The closer we can get LIV to do some of these things, the better,” Rahm commented.

As Rahm’s frustrations with LIV Golf continue to mount, the possibility of him returning to the PGA Tour seems to be growing stronger. However, whether he will actually take such a drastic step remains to be seen.