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 well liked 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 surprising determination to signal with LIV Golf and the aftermath for the PGA Tour.

1. Adding to every week that already had an announcement of a controversial golf-ball rollback (you possibly can learn that particular version of Tour Confidential right here), World No. 3 Jon Rahm joined LIV Golf for a deal that’s reported to be nicely into 9 figures. Not way back Rahm mentioned he had little interest in the up-start league and that loopy cash wouldn’t change his way of life anyway. So, what occurred?

Josh Sens, senior author (@joshsens): The huge 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 achieve added negotiation leverage. What didn’t change is that the Saudis have bottomless monetary sources and everybody has a value. 

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): After the Tour confirmed they had been prepared to do enterprise with the Saudis, all bets had been off. Rahm stayed by means of the chaos of early defections — watching his colleagues receives a commission a whole bunch of thousands and thousands — and bought little or no from the Tour in return for his loyalty. With the Tour and LIV trying to merge sooner or later, he could as nicely get his bag whereas he can.

James Colgan, information and options editor (@jamescolgan26): Yeah, LIV provided Rahm a metric ton of money, which was sufficient to tip the metaphorical scales. But I additionally suppose LIV provided 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 fingers deep in each leagues, the “legacy” provided by the PGA Tour paled as compared. Oh, and the eight zeroes helped.

2. Rahm appeared to be a participant who cared deeply about profitable a few of the PGA Tour’s marquee occasions, as soon as saying “There’s meaning when you win the Memorial. There’s meaning when you win Arnold Palmer’s event at Bay Hill. There’s a meaning when you win, LA, Torrey, some of the historic venues. That to me matters 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 find out about the way forward for the 2 leagues?

Sens: Possibly. It’s not laborious to think about a merger, or a world the place boundaries between the 2 circuits disappear, permitting gamers to leap backwards and forwards. But what appears extra related to Rahm is that, together 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 as if even they don’t know what the longer term holds. It’s extra possible 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. Everybody’s bought 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 huge names becoming a member of LIV within the coming weeks? Who is perhaps on their radar?

Sens: Recent remarks from Tony Finau’s orbit make it sound like he’s already gone. But different names being bandied about — mainly  Hatton, possibly Hovland?- appear extremely real looking, too. Of course, Rory leaping would make me spill my espresso. But 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 huge names comply with 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 degree of sense (and likewise offers LIV a group crammed with three of golf’s all-time good guys). I believe the larger information, after Rahm, is that no one is off the radar anymore.

4. Where do the PGA Tour, and commissioner Jay Monahan, go from right here? And what does Rahm leaving for LIV imply for the continuing 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 bought many playing cards left to play. As for the merger, plucking off Rahm (with others certain to comply with) 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 most suitable 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 will really feel assured issues are going to get shifting shortly, because the Tour’s new partnership of billionaires signifies.

Sens: I’ve a vacation fruitcake that I think will probably be round longer than Monahan. I’d be shocked if he’s nonetheless commish next 12 months. As James says, the urgency for talks is larger than ever, however any merger would nonetheless need to go muster with regulators. The brief reply is, one other 12 months of a divided skilled sport, even when the court docket fights are executed. 

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 received the Masters, is in his prime and was presupposed to be a core piece the PGA Tour builds round. If you’re a PGA Tour participant, what are you most inquisitive about concerning the way forward for your league?

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

Melton: I’d be asking if the league will even exist in 5 years. If they maintain hemorrhaging stars, there received’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 depend as huge information. But in the end, 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 limitless 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 marvel so many followers appear delay today. The present local weather isn’t wholesome, regardless of how wealthy some gamers get. 

Melton: Although having the celebrities break 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 celebrities sq. off 4 instances a 12 months, these tourneys turn out to be must-see TV. See y’all in April.

Colgan: The Tour’s Sunday evening announcement that it has “advanced negotiations” with the “Strategic Sports Group” is HUGE information. HUGE. The SSG is headlined by possibly the best assortment of sports activities homeowners ever assembled (homeowners of a minimum of 9 professional sports activities franchises, by my depend), and guarantees to infuse billions into the Tour. In conjunction with an settlement with the PIF, the Tour’s monetary future may very well be getting ready to a tectonic shift.