Golf

Jon Rahm LIV talks? Saudi deal changes? Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth questioned

Tiger Woods hits his second shot on Friday on the 18th gap at Albany Golf Course.

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Jon Rahm stated he was not going to LIV Golf. 

All the way in which again in February of 2022.

“This is my official, my one and only time I’ll talk about this, where I am officially declaring my fealty to the PGA Tour,” Rahm stated, according to Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner. “… I have a lot of belief in (PGA Tour commissioner) Jay Monahan and the product that they’re going to give us in the future. There has been a lot of talk and speculation about the Saudi league. It’s just not something I believe is the best for me and my future in golf, and I think the best legacy I can accomplish will be with the PGA Tour.”

Since then? 

How a lot time do you might have? 

LIV launched about 4 months later. They fought with the Tour over gamers and status. They began a second season. Rahm stood by the Tour. Then in June of this 12 months, LIV’s backer, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, agreed to a tentative funding deal with the Tour. And it was a stunner. Only, that’s been largely it. Today, the settlement continues to be being negotiated. And there are questions. Is it on? Is it off? 

Is Rahm having a change of coronary heart?  

Last week, the Palm Beach Post’s Tom D’Angelo suggested that possibility, writing that “several outlets are reporting Rahm is in advanced talks with the Saudi-backed league for a potential $600 million.” It had been — and stays — a scorching subject on-line. Could the world’s third-ranked participant depart for LIV? What would that do to the deal? What about that earlier quote? For his half, although, Rahm has remained mum not too long ago, and a message to Rahm’s agent from GOLF.com has gone unanswered.  

But two different gamers talked Friday, when requested about all of it following their play on the Hero World Challenge. The first was one of many latest members of the Tour’s coverage board, although Tiger Woods has additionally received 15 majors and 82 Tour occasions. 

Woods was imprecise. And revealing. He was requested 4 questions.

Tiger Woods speaks at press conference.

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Here was the change:

Reporter: “Tiger, there’s been a lot of chat again the last 48 hours of some big-name players going and signing for LIV.” 

Woods: “I’m sorry, louder.” 

Reporter: “In the last 48 hours, players signing for LIV. Does that surprise you?” 

Woods: “The chatter or people leaving?” 

Reporter. “People leaving.” 

Woods: “I don’t — hypothetically would it surprise me, yes, but there’s so many different things that have happened in the last, as you said, 48 hours but also in the last few weeks. Things have changed and will continue to change. Our deadline’s coming up here soon, so there’s a lot of moving parts. A lot of different things are happening very quickly because we know, you know, I think today’s the first day in December; we don’t have a whole lot of time.” 

Reporter: “You say it wouldn’t surprise you …”

Woods: “Well, nothing has really surprised me other than the fact that there’s so many different things that have happened so fast. That’s one of the things that all of our — all of us as player-directors we’ve been working on, just that everything is now at a time crunch. It’s 24 hours a day just trying to figure it out.”

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Things have modified? Reporters within the Bahamas didn’t observe up there. The deadline we all know; the settlement set it at Dec. 31. But there was additionally a touch of some latest developments — so many alternative issues which have occurred within the final, as you stated, 48 hours. Is a deal shut? Is it useless? Are there new companions? Are gamers leaving? Notably, the absence of data usually fuels hypothesis. 

A bit later, Jordan Spieth stood earlier than reporters. He’s the latest member of the Tour’s coverage board, although Spieth has additionally received three majors. There have been some specifics right here. Along with a plea. And a protection. 

He was requested three questions. Here was the change:

Reporter. “You just rejoined the policy board; that’s really the only reason why I’m asking. With all the rumors about …” 

Spieth: “I what?” 

Reporter: “You just rejoined the policy board. Honestly, the only reason that I’m asking, with all the rumors about Jon Rahm going around, if that were to happen, how would that impact the negotiations with the Public Investment Fund?” 

Spieth: “I’m not sure specifically how it would impact those negotiations, but all in all, Jon Rahm is one of the biggest assets that we have on the PGA Tour. So it would be a really — really not very good for us in general because we want to play against the best players in the world and that’s what Jon is. I know there’s been some guys that have talked to him. I know he’s maybe weighing some decisions, maybe not. I really don’t know, so I don’t want to insult him and say he’s weighing decisions if he already knows he’s not or he is. You know, that’s somewhat out of my control in a way. Obviously I could speak probably on behalf of 200-plus PGA Tour players in saying that we really hope that he’s continuing with us.” 

Tiger Woods plays during a practice round prior to the Hero World Challenge

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Reporter. “If you were going to try to convince Jon to turn down crazy money, what would you tell him?” 

Spieth: “Again, like what’s weird is if he’s not considering it at all, which I really don’t know, then it would be an insult to be just playing this game with him to even answer these questions. He might be insulted by it. You know, I think for me, if it were me, and I don’t even know if I ever got an offer, but I like the way that I play four rounds of stroke play the same way we play the majors. I believe that we’re playing against the best players in the world, and it’s what I’ve always wanted to do is to play out here and try and catch PGA Tour wins, catch the legends of the game. It’s a history thing and the money’s a bonus.”

There was some element in there, wasn’t there? Sort of. 

It’s not information, in fact, that Rahm is an asset. But some guys have talked to him? Interesting. Who? About what? He’s weighing choices, although perhaps not? What choices? 

And then got here what may in all probability be known as a PGA Tour mission assertion. 

At least we all know the place Spieth shall be enjoying his golf. 

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Nick Piastowski

Nick Piastowski

Golf.com Editor

Nick Piastowski is a Senior Editor at Golf.com and Golf Magazine. In his function, he’s liable for enhancing, writing and creating tales throughout the golf house. And when he’s not writing about methods to hit the golf ball farther and straighter, the Milwaukee native might be enjoying the sport, hitting the ball left, proper and quick, and consuming a chilly beer to clean away his rating. You can attain out to him about any of those matters — his tales, his recreation or his beers — at nick.piastowski@golf.com.


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