Moving forward isn’t as easy as Jon Rahm thought.
The Spanish golf star lamented not being able to defend the title he won last season after being handed an automatic suspension from the PGA Tour by commissioner Jay Monaghan for his move to LIV Golf.
Rahm rose to the top of the sport with wins at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, American Express, Genesis Invitational, and Masters.
“I’m not going to lie. For all the people who said this would be easy, and sometimes it was, not being able to defend some titles that meant a lot to me wasn’t. .” Rahm told ESPN.
“I love Palm Springs (American Express), I’ve won there twice. Riviera (Genesis) is as much of a golf course gem as we are. It’s been a great week for many of us. It’s definitely a favorite week for fans and players alike. It was tough not being there.
“I was still watching the broadcasts. I still watch golf because I like watching it, but it’s difficult. It was tough not being able to play in the Phoenix Open at the end of February, and I also won’t be able to play in Hawaii (Sentry). That was tough because it’s another tournament that my family enjoys and I did great.”
Rahm left in December with a reported salary of $500 million to $600 million, making him the most prominent player to move to LIV Golf.
LIV has top players such as Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Tyrrell Hatton, but the tour plays in front of sparse crowds and draws meager viewership on The CW. They were unable to attract fans’ attention. .
Members of the PGA Tour Players Association, including Tiger Woods, reportedly met with PIF, the Saudi financial arm that funds LIV, in the Bahamas this week.
Negotiations between the two sides have continued on and off since the surprise announcement in June of a framework agreement for LIV and the PGA Tour to merge as part of that agreement.
Rahm, who defeated Koepka in the final round for a four-stroke victory, will have a chance to defend his Masters title next month.
For Rahm, it will be an opportunity to reunite with some of the colleagues and friends he left behind.
“So, so far, I haven’t had a bad experience,” Rahm said. “I’ve watched other PGA Tour pros and I don’t see anything particularly bad about them. I think there are quite a few people who aren’t happy with them, and probably our dynamic as well. [have] Things have changed, but nothing about my side has changed. I still respect everyone on both sides and respect golf above all else. ”
Rahm has finished in the top 10 in all four LIV Golf events so far this season, but has yet to earn an individual victory.
