As Jon Rahm prepares to compete in his first non-major PGA Tour event since joining LIV Golf, the Spaniard can’t avoid questions about the future of his current tour.
Rahm is one of several LIV players in the field for this week’s Genesis Scottish Open, which is co-sanctioned by the PGA and DP World tours, after recently reaching an agreement with the European circuit. He spoke to reporters on Tuesday at the Renaissance Club, and among the topics was LIV’s push to find investors to keep the league going without Saudi funding, which will end after this season.
Reports have LIV seeking $300 million for a 10-event schedule next year.
Some players like Sergio Garcia and Bryson DeChambeau have remained optimistic, with Garcia saying, “I’m 99% sure that LIV is going to continue. It’s just going to look different.” DeChambeau said, “I’m giving all I can to make it happen,” regarding a new, profitable model for LIV.
Others like Carlos Ortiz, though, aren’t as confident: “It’s not looking great.”
Rahm, who reportedly signed a deal with LIV in December 2023 worth over $300 million, was presented by one reporter on Tuesday with the idea that LIV players would contribute to the tour’s prize fund in exchange for some sort of equity stake.
“I know Scott [O’Neil, LIV’s CEO] is doing a lot of work trying to find developers, and there’s many ways around that,” Rahm said. “As far as putting my money into it, they have not asked me to do that yet. So, I don’t know if they will or not. It’s not something that they have asked me, but there have been many different avenues to try to make it different, what we’ve had till now. They haven’t asked me to put my money in yet.”
Would he if asked, though?
“Something I’ve learned in life, never say never,” Rahm answered. “I’m not going to say absolutely no to anything that can happen in the future.”
As for this week, Rahm dismissed the notion that this week, his first Scottish start since 2022, feels any different now that he’s been a full-time LIV player for the last two seasons. LIV hasn’t competed since June 7 in Spain and after its New Orleans event was canceled, won’t hold another tournament until July 23-26 in England.
“It’s just another event,” Rahm said before later adding that he’s “quite peaceful” playing on LIV.
“If I’m being perfectly honest, the overall feeling in LIV Golf, leading up to the tournaments and the tournaments, it’s a really good atmosphere, really good vibe and quite a lot of happiness,” Rahm said. “So, I don’t feel any different coming to this week. Because when we’re competing, it’s all about, obviously, trying to shoot the lowest score possible.”