20 December 2023 , 20:04
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Shane Lowry has admitted the thought of no competing against his Ryder Cup teammate Jon Rahm on the PGA Tour next year is 'mad', after the Spaniard's LIV Golf move.
Rahm became LIV's biggest signing to date earlier this month, after penning a reported £450 million deal with the Saudi-backed series. LIV Golf's gain is most certainly the PGA Tour's loss, with Rahm joining the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka in making the switch.
One man who is set to miss competing against the Masters champion week-in-week-out is Lowry, as he became the latest star to have his same on his European teammate's mega-money move.
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“There’s no smoke without fire so we all thought he must be going," Lowry said per The 42. “[I wasn’t] surprised, as I am not surprised by anything at the minute. It is what it is now, it’s just mad to think we won’t be playing against Jon Rahm until the Masters.
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"He won’t be rocking up to Riviera, Bay Hill, The Players – all the big tournaments on the PGA Tour. “It’s just mad to think that. It is what it is. I am just hopeful it all irons itself out soon, and we will be back playing together again soon. I don’t know when that will be, but hopefully soon.”
Lowry may also miss Rahm at the Ryder Cup too, with doubt cast over his future in European colours on the back of his Saudi switch. A number of LIV stars including Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood have been forced to hand in their DP World Tour membership, thus giving up the chance to play in future Ryder Cups.
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Jon Rahm joined LIV Golf earlier this month (AP)And despite being one of Europe's most important players during their victory in Rome this autumn, Rahm could well follow suit. One man who believes the Spaniard must be a part of Europe's title defence in the U.S. in two years' time is one of LIV's biggest critics, Rory McIlroy.
On the back of Rahm's move last month, Lowry's Olympic teammate, McIlroy, called on the Ryder Cup rules to be changed to allow the Spaniard to compete at Bethpage Black in 2025. Jon is going to be in Bethpage in 2025," the Northern Irishman told Sky Sports.
"So because of this decision the European Tour are going to have to rewrite the rules for Ryder Cup eligibility, absolutely, there is no question about that. I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team." As part of Rahm's £450 million deal, he has been handed ownership of his own team on the breakaway league.
On Wednesday, it was reported by Spanish outlet Relevo that his fellow countryman Adri Arnaus would become the first of his three signings for 2024. As things stand, Rahm's team name and four-man roster is yet to have been revealed by the Saudi-backed series.