Jon Rahm told by former PGA Tour winner: “Your comments were shocking”

Joe Ogilvie, a former PGA Tour winner and current policy board member, has expressed his astonishment at Jon Rahm’s assertion that his move to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league could act as a catalyst for peace between the two tours. Rahm’s transfer to LIV Golf, finalized on December 8, 2023, was reportedly worth £450 million ($566.4 million).

Rahm, who secured a lifetime invitation to the Masters with his victory at Augusta National and gained five-year exemptions into the U.S. Open, Open Championship, and PGA Championship, cited several reasons for his decision to join the breakaway tour. His switch came six months after the PGA Tour announced a ‘framework agreement’ with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

In a revealing interview with Golfweek, Ogilvie described Rahm’s remarks as unbelievable. “It was certainly shocking,” Ogilvie commented. “It was a negotiating tactic to take a player like Jon, and for Jon to go. That was definitely a shot across the bow.”

Rahm later acknowledged that some PGA Tour players, including Tiger Woods, distanced themselves from him due to his decision. He mentioned that one player even refused to look at him at Augusta National during the first men’s major of the year.

Before defending his Masters title, Rahm explained his perspective to BBC Sport. He believed his move to LIV Golf would facilitate an agreement between the two tours. “I understood my position, yes,” Rahm said. “And I understood that it could be, what I hoped, a step towards some kind of agreement, yes. Or more of an agreement or expedited agreement. But, unfortunately, it’s not up to me. But I would hope it would be something that would help expedite that process. But at the end of the day, I still did what I thought was best for myself.”