Golf icon issues brutal LIV dig after weighing in on Jon Rahm move
Fred Couples has aimed a brutal dig towards the LIV Golf setup on the back of Jon Rahm's mega-money move, claiming the breakaway circuit have "not changed a thing" in professional golf.
Rahm became the latest PGA Tour star to sign on the dotted line with the LIV setup last week, following the likes of Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka in making the Saudi switch. The Spaniard is the league's biggest signing yet, having been handed a deal worth a reported £450million. A number of players who have signed with the breakaway circuit have detailed the chance to 'grow the game' as a key reason behind their decision to defect, a similar point also raised by Masters champion Rahm.
"That’s my position, play golf to the best of my abilities and leave the game in a better position than when I started playing golf," he said. "I always mention it in Spain, what Seve [Ballesteros] did to grow the game there, hopefully I can do half as much as what he did and that’s a success."
READ MORE: Tony Finau's LIV Golf snub could be bad news for £450million man Jon Rahm
Couples, however, is not convinced by this motion, and has since called on those interested in following in Rahm's footsteps to sign for free if the breakaway league is as enticing as many have mentioned. “I want them to go for free,” the American told SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio.
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"Then go on CNN and every TV show and say why they’re going because it’s that good, $100m doesn’t get it, $200m doesn’t get it, $300m doesn’t get it. But for $400m it’s a great product and it’s a great show… my a**. Tell me the next guy, if its Tony Finau, ‘I’m going for free, I love this tour, I don’t like the PGA Tour anymore.’
“No-one is going to do that. What does that tell me? It tells me it’s all about money which is fine. But don’t sit there and then go on and say they’re changing the game. What are they changing? For 50 years golf has been changed. Arnold Palmer changed it. Jack Nicklaus changed it. Tiger Woods changed it. The LIV Tour ain’t changing a thing.”
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Jon Rahm joined LIV Golf last week (AP)Couples reference to Tony Finau came after the six-time PGA Tour winner was reportedly in talks to join LIV and Rahm's soon-to-be-announced team, according to the Telegraph. Finau initially refused to rule out making the Saudi switch when competing at last weekend's Grant Thornton Invitational.
Just days later though the 34-year-old finally confirmed that his future would be with the PGA Tour in 2024. "As this year comes to an end I’m grateful to play the game that I love and to have the opportunity to compete at the highest level," he wrote on Instagram.
"I’m excited for 2024 and looking forward to playing my 10th season on the PGA Tour! And stoked to be defending in both Mexico and Houston! Thank you to my partners for your continued support. Thank you to the fans for all the love for our whole Finau fam." Finau then signed off his message with the hashtag #imnotleaving.
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