Jon Rahm shocks the world of Golf by signing for the Saudi League
Five hundred million euros net per season are to blame for Jon Rahm's departure from the almost monopolistic North American golf circuit. The golfer from Barrika (Vizcaya) joins his sporting destiny to LIV Golf, the circuit promoted and financed by Saudi Arabia, which aspires to break the Anglo-American primacy and the quasi-monopoly of the major tournaments.
Jon Rahm, winner of two majors - the 2021 US Open and the Augusta Masters this 2023 - said after signing the contract that "I am proud to join LIV Golf and be part of something new that is bringing growth to the sport. I have no doubt that this is a great opportunity for me and my family and I am very excited about what the future may hold".
For his part, LIV Golf's CEO, Australian Greg Norman, known as "The Great White Shark" during his years as number one on the world tour, said, "Jon Rahm is a generational talent who has consistently confirmed that he is one of the best players in the world. There are very few athletes with that blend of talent, poise and commitment, with the ability to advance a sport on a global level. We couldn't be more pleased with his addition."
Rahm's impact as one of the most dominant players in the last decade extends around the world. At 29, the Spanish golfer has amassed 20 major international victories, including two majors in 2021 and 2023 and three DP World Tour Championships in 2017, 2019 and 2022. He has also contested the Ryder Cup, the biannual meeting between the United States and Europe, three times, helping to lead the European team to victory in the 2018 and 2023 editions.
Throughout his career he has accumulated 93 Top 10s and various awards, including 2021 PGA of America Player of the Year, two-time European Tour Golfer of the Year (DP World Tour) and outright winner of the 2019 European Tour Race to Rubai. Prior to turning professional, Jon Rahm was No. 1 in the World Amateur Rankings for 60 weeks, twice being awarded the Ben Hogan Award, which honored him as the top collegiate golfer in the United States while at the University of Arizona.
His popular appeal and his commitment to Spain could be seen in his last performance at the Spanish Open held last October at the Club de Campo de Madrid. Fervent crowds passionately followed the Basque golfer, who gave a great performance despite the fact that he was not able to win a new victory in a tournament that, like the revered Severiano Ballesteros, he has already won three times.
In his new stage, Jon Rahm becomes part of a League that already brings together some of the best golfers in the world, with special mention for Talor Gooch (individual champion of the LIV Golf 2023); Bryson DeChambeau, champion of the US Open 2020; Cameron Smith, champion of the British Open 2022; Brooks Koepka, winner of the 2023 PGA Championship and five times winner of as many Majors; Phil Mickelson, with six majors, and other figures such as Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson or Martin Kaymer, also with several majors in his record.
Jon will begin to face all of them at the Mayakoba tournament in Mexico next February, in the first of the twelve tournaments that make up the LIV Golf season, in addition to an individual and a team championship in new and emerging markets around the world.
Saudi Arabia's commitment to golf is consolidated with this signing, which will certainly attract other major stars of the golfing firmament.