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Jon Rahm’s PGA Tour return, Tiger Woods text, record-breaking LIV Golf contract

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Jon Rahm’s PGA Tour return, Tiger Woods text, record-breaking LIV Golf contract

LIV Golf broke the bank to secure Jon Rahm’s signature last year, with the Spaniard joining dozens of elite-level stars by defecting to the Saudi Arabia-backed breakaway tour

Jon Rahm became LIV Golf’s latest high profile capture in December((Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images))

Back in December, Jon Rahm became the latest high profile capture for LIV Golf in what was an absolutely sickening blow to the PGA Tour.

The move came as something of a surprise given the Spaniard’s past comments about the breakaway tour. Previously, he’d talked up the PGA’s history and championed its legacy, before deriding LIV Golf’s 54-hole format and insisting he wasn’t tempted by the gargantuan contracts the competition – bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) – was offering defectors.




But in a shock twist, the 29-year-old signed on the dotted line, reportedly becoming the highest-paid player in the history of golf. The deal was announced several months after news of a potential partnership between the PGA and LIV broke.

However, the framework of the partnership is yet to be agreed, and although LIV players have been given the green light to compete at any of the PGA’s four major events, total collaboration between the two tours is still some way off. Here, The Mirror takes a look at Rahm’s situation and what the future holds for the former World No. 1.

Rahm’s record-breaking LIV Golf deal

Rahm’s defection last year turned plenty of heads, not only due to his past statements about LIV but also because of the money involved. According to reports, the 2023 Masters champion signed an eye-bulging $500million (£386m) deal – the biggest contract in LIV Golf history.

It surpassed the £160m deal Phil Mickelson was handed in 2022, which previously held the record. Rahm’s contract runs until 2028 and reportedly includes shares in the Saudi-backed tour, use of one of the Saudi Royal Family’s private jets, and a team of 10 personal assistants who provide round-the-clock care for him and his family.

Texting Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods hasn’t spoken to Jon Rahm since his defection to LIV Golf(Getty)

Previously, Rahm was one of the few high profile golfers, along with the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, to pledge his future to the PGA Tour following the emergence of LIV Golf. After defecting, the Spaniard made efforts to contact his former tour-mates, and while McIlroy has been supportive, Woods has apparently left Rahm on read.

“I mean, Tiger, I texted him and the people that try to reach out, you know, the process, when I signed and I just let him know, ‘Hey, you know, this is a personal decision. I have nothing against anybody’,” Rahm told ESPN in February.

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