Jon Rahm’s LIV Golf stunner, what’s next for Tour

heck in each week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the most popular subjects within the sport, and be a part of the dialog by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we talk about Jon Rahm’s stunning determination to signal with LIV Golf and the aftermath for the PGA Tour.

1. Including to per week that already had an announcement of a controversial golf-ball rollback (you can read that special edition of Tour Confidential here), World No. 3 Jon Rahm joined LIV Golf for a deal that’s reported to be well into nine figures. Not way back Rahm mentioned he had no real interest in the up-start league and that loopy cash wouldn’t change his life-style anyway. So, what occurred?

Josh Sens, senior author (@joshsens): The massive factor that modified is the golf panorama, during which the Tour did a sneaky about-face on doing enterprise with the Saudis (giving gamers free license to do the identical) and the Saudis, with a deadline to a possible settlement fast-approaching and the Tour speaking to different suitors, had all of the extra incentive to realize added negotiation leverage. What didn’t change is that the Saudis have bottomless monetary assets and everybody has a value. 

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): After the Tour confirmed they had been keen to do enterprise with the Saudis, all bets had been off. Rahm stayed via the chaos of early defections — watching his colleagues receives a commission lots of of tens of millions — and received little or no from the Tour in return for his loyalty. With the Tour and LIV seeking to merge sooner or later, he might as nicely get his bag whereas he can.

James Colgan, information and options editor (@jamescolgan26): Yeah, LIV supplied Rahm a metric ton of money, which was sufficient to tip the metaphorical scales. However I additionally suppose LIV supplied him one thing the PGA Tour didn’t: the chance to be the face (and the voice) of the league. In a world the place the Saudis have their arms deep in each leagues, the “legacy” supplied by the PGA Tour paled as compared. Oh, and the eight zeroes helped.

2. Rahm seemed to be a player who cared deeply about successful a number of the PGA Tour’s marquee occasions, as soon as saying “There’s which means while you win the Memorial. There’s which means while you win Arnold Palmer’s occasion at Bay Hill. There’s a which means while you win, LA, Torrey, a number of the historic venues. That to me issues rather a lot.” Does Rahm signing with LIV Golf imply he’s moved on from that earlier stance, or is there an opportunity he is aware of one thing we don’t learn about the way forward for the 2 leagues?

Sens: Probably. It’s not laborious to think about a merger, or a world the place obstacles between the 2 circuits disappear, permitting gamers to leap backwards and forwards. However what appears extra related to Rahm is that, along with his exemptions and his standings, will nonetheless get to play within the occasions that matter to him most it doesn’t matter what. 

Melton: I discover it laborious to consider Rahm is aware of a lot about the way forward for the 2 leagues as a result of it looks like even they don’t know what the longer term holds. It’s extra probably that they made him a suggestion he merely couldn’t refuse.

Colgan: I believe we’ve seen sufficient proof from earlier defections that declarations of allegiance to both league aren’t well worth the air they’re spoken into. Everyone’s received a plan till they’re staring down life-changing cash.

3. Now the golf world waits for extra dominos to fall, particularly since Rahm will captain certainly one of his personal LIV groups. Do you see extra PGA Tour gamers or large names joining LIV within the coming weeks? Who may be on their radar?

Sens: Current remarks from Tony Finau’s orbit make it sound like he’s already gone. However different names being bandied about — mainly  Hatton, possibly Hovland?- appear extremely practical, too. After all, Rory leaping would make me spill my espresso. However at this level, there’s not a lot information that would trigger a lot shock. 

Melton: It sounds prefer it’s a matter of when, not if, extra large names observe Rahm. Tony Finau and Tyrrell Hatton appear to be prime candidates.

Colgan: We’ve seen Finau and Hatton’s names tied to Rahm, which makes some stage of sense (and in addition offers LIV a group crammed with three of golf’s all-time good guys). I believe the larger information, after Rahm, is that no person is off the radar anymore.

4. The place do the PGA Tour, and commissioner Jay Monahan, go from right here? And what does Rahm leaving for LIV imply for the continued merger talks with a deadline for a deal looming later this month?

Melton: I’m unsure the place Monahan goes from right here. It doesn’t appear to be he’s received many playing cards left to play. As for the merger, plucking off Rahm (with others certain to observe) offers the Saudis that rather more bargaining energy.

Colgan: In signing Rahm, the PIF ostensibly places a gun to Monahan’s head because it pertains to merger conversations. His best choice is to wish these negotiations finalize earlier than one other star jumps ship — as everybody on the desk now is aware of. I believe we are able to really feel assured issues are going to get transferring rapidly, because the Tour’s new partnership of billionaires signifies.

Sens: I’ve a vacation fruitcake that I believe will probably be round longer than Monahan. I’d be stunned if he’s nonetheless commish subsequent yr. As James says, the urgency for talks is bigger than ever, however any merger would nonetheless need to move muster with regulators. The quick reply is, one other yr of a divided skilled sport, even when the courtroom fights are carried out. 

5. Rahm leaving was a dagger to the PGA Tour, not solely as a result of he’s well-known however as a result of he simply gained the Masters, is in his prime and was presupposed to be a core piece the PGA Tour builds round. In case you are a PGA Tour participant, what are you most curious about regarding the future of your league?

Sens: So many issues. Who will probably be left to compete towards week in and week out? How robust will it’s to retain sponsors? What’s going to occur with world rankings, gateways to the majors? What occurs to prize cash? Ought to I look to start out incomes my dwelling in pickleball?

Melton: I’d be asking if the league will even exist in 5 years. In the event that they hold hemorrhaging stars, there gained’t be a lot of a product to promote sooner or later. 

Colgan: I’m questioning at what level we begin asking if all the perfect gamers on the earth are nonetheless on the PGA Tour.

6. Any parting ideas, our esteemed Tour Confidential panel?

Sens: The Rahm headlines rely as large information. However finally, I believe, you possibly can remake rosters, schedules and contracts all you need, and there’ll nonetheless be solely a small variety of occasions that draw curiosity past the hard-core fan base. The professional golf market has been made irrational by countless Saudi funding and the cash being thrown at gamers distorts their precise world. A extra rational world would have fewer occasions and never as many millionaires. It’s no surprise so many followers appear delay as of late. The present local weather isn’t wholesome, regardless of how wealthy some gamers get. 

Melton: Though having the celebs cut up up on two excursions hurts the week-to-week product, it makes the majors that rather more compelling. If the followers can solely see all the celebs sq. off 4 instances a yr, these tourneys turn into must-see TV. See y’all in April.

Colgan: The Tour’s Sunday evening announcement that it has “superior negotiations” with the “Strategic Sports activities Group” is HUGE information. HUGE. The SSG is headlined by possibly the best assortment of sports activities house owners ever assembled (house owners of no less than 9 professional sports activities franchises, by my rely), and guarantees to infuse billions into the Tour. Along with an settlement with the PIF, the Tour’s monetary future could possibly be getting ready to a tectonic shift.