LIV Golf has poached some of the best players in the world because it offers hundreds of millions of dollars in signing bonuses and guaranteed contracts for a lighter schedule. Plain and simple. More money, less time. Why do the defectors have such a hard time admitting that?
A few players have been forthright about following the money to LIV. In a recent interview with Marty Smith of ESPN , Jon Rahm — who signed a contract worth more than $300M over four years — gave the most honest answer we’ve heard from a LIV Golf player yet.
“The best way I can explain it is LIV Golf wasn’t a thing or a possibility for us growing up,” Rahm explained. “The PGA Tour was the pinnacle of golf, right? This is a new change, a big change. I don’t want to skip through this point because there’s no point. [LIV Golf offered a] big change in the way golfers get compensated.
“I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t a big part of it. In a nutshell, I’m getting paid more to play the same sport and have more time. I don’t know about most people, but that sounds great to me.”
Other LIV Golf players have used every trick in the book to spin their decision to join the controversial league offering generational wealth.
Graeme McDowell said, “We’re not politicians” and that his goal is to be a good role model for kids. Talor Gooch and Kevin Na claimed they were allured by the shotgun start format. Phil Mickelson said it’s a better chance to spread professional golf throughout the world. No mention of the numerous human rights violations or sportswashing attempts from the regime that’s funding the LIV Golf league.
While those factors may have been involved in the decision-making process, they aren’t the main reason why these players flocked to a Saudi-backed golf league that can’t offer Official World Golf Ranking points.
Rahm also noted the impending deal between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia helped mold his decision to leave for LIV. If the sides come to an agreement, Rahm and other LIV Golf members could have the chance to play on the PGA Tour again in the future.
Now that a top-five player in the world and the new face of LIV can admit this is a money game, maybe the rest of the rival tour can, too.
