Jon Rahm became LIV Golf’s fourth Spanish member on Thursdaythe circuit funded by the Government of Saudi Arabia, and He joins Sergio García, Eugenio López Chacarra and David Puig, former PGA players who have seen their income increase thanks to the massive prize pool offered by this league.
Rahm, 29, will wear his green Augusta Masters champion jacket at the controversial LIV, that changed the world of golf in 2022 by seizing, based on a checkbook, stars like Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson, on the PGA.
The financial terms of Rahm’s deal are unknown, but his earnings are estimated to exceed $500 million.
In a telematic meeting with several international media, Rahm acknowledged that money weighed heavily in his decision, although it was not the only factor.
The economic incentive is LIV’s main weapon, whose juicy prizes have attracted the golf world’s elite.
The surprise of Eugenio López Chacarra
The case of Eugenio López Chacarra is particularly noteworthy, that of him 22 years old and has five months experience as a professionalgave a surprise by winning the LIV Bangkok tournament.
The award? A check for 4.8 million dollars. To compare it, when Rahm won this year’s Augusta Masters, one of the ‘big four’ and one of the most traditional tournaments in the world, pocketing a check for $3.24 million.
The Genesis Invitational, a tournament that Barrika also won this campaign, gave him 3.6 million dollars, the Sentry Tournament of Champions, 2.7, while The American Express, 1.44. The numbers are very high but cannot compare to the prizes of LIV tournaments.
Far from those on the European circuit. The Spanish Open awarded its winner a prize of just under $300,000.
The LIV Golf figure changed López Chacarra’s life and ended up convincing Rahm as well.
Rahm is against going to LIV, but…
The Basque player made sure in June that he was not attracted to the LIV game format, with tournaments of three rounds instead of four and no cuts, and that “$400 million” more in the bank won’t change his lifestyle “one bit.”
At the same time, he emphasized that he did not question the life decisions of other golfers.
“I understand the appeal of LIV, I understand, to put it kindly, the reasons why (many players) chose it. To be honest, the format does not appeal to me”Rahm said in June before the start of the US Open.
“Yes, the prizes (LIV) are very good. Would my lifestyle change if I had 400 million? No, I wouldn’t change it one bit. I can retire now and live a very happy life without ever playing golf again. “I never played for money reasons, I play for the love of this sport and I want to compete against the best,” he added at the time.
RahmsHe will also add a veteran like Sergio García, winner of 36 tournaments in his career, including the 2017 Augusta Masters.
Puig, from beginner to professional at LIV
He was also a member of the Spanish ‘delegation’. David Puig, only 22 years old. He came to LIV Golf as an ‘amateur’ and turned professional in September 2022.
The circuit also has Mexicans Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz, Colombian Sebastián Muñoz and Chileans Joaquín Niemann and Mito Pereira.
Source: La Verdad
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