07 December 2023 , 19:07
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Jon Rahm has sensationally agreed a deal to sign with LIV Golf, with the breakaway circuit landing arguably their biggest signing since forming last summer.
Rahm had been linked with joining the LIV setup for weeks, and the deal is now apparently agreed between the Masters champion and the breakaway league. In the days building up to the Spaniard's Saudi switch, multiple reports alleged Rahm was to become LIV's highest paid player to date.
It was reported that the reigning Masters champion is to be handed an eye-watering £475million ($600m) package to sign on the dotted line with Greg Norman and co, with £237.5m ($300m) paid up front.
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Rahm becomes the latest big name to make the Saudi switch, following in the footsteps of his good friends Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson, as well as the likes of Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Cam Smith. Amid a number of star-studded names, the signing of Rahm is could be well be the breakaway league's biggest coup to date.
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The 29-year-old will join the LIV roster as the current Masters champion, having announced himself as one of the world's top players in recent years. Rahm is currently ranked No. 3 in the world rankings, and has battled for top spot with Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler over the past two years.
In 2023 the green jacket winner was the PGA Tour's most succesful winner, landing four titles on the American-based circuit, including his Masters crown. Elsewhere, Rahm enjoyed an electric start to last season, winning three times in the first two months of the year at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the American Express and Genesis Invitational.
Jon Rahm is LIV's latest big-name signing (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)Heading into the New Year though it appears the Spaniard will be unable to defend his three crowns, thanks to his LIV Golf move. The PGA Tour have have been vigilant in their punishments to members joining their LIV rivals, after suspending Micklson and co within minutes of competing in the Saudi-backed league's first ever event at Centurion last summer.
It is expected that the same fate will come the way of Rahm, despite ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) to end the dispute between the rival tours. Despite remaining fairly neutral in the recent civil war, Rahm's switch will still come as a surprise to many.
As recently as August, the 29-year-old played down his chances of ever signing with LIV, admitting he would laugh whenever his name was linked to the circuit. He told the Golf Sin Etiquetas podcast: "I laugh when people rumour me with LIV Golf.
"I never liked the format. And I always have a good time with Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia in the practice rounds of majors. Phil [Mickelson] respects my decision, and I respect his [choice]. Mickelson has told me that I have no reason to go play for LIV, and he has told me that multiple times.”