06 January 2024 , 08:00
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With the 2024 LIV Golf season less than one month away, latest signing Jon Rahm is still yet to announce his team, whilst three other rosters on the circuits have spaces to fill.
It proved to be another year of progress for LIV in 2023, as the Saudi-backed circuit completed its first ever full campaign, whilst further cementing their spot at the top of the golfing pyramid. Off the course they could not have ended the year stronger too, after signing one of the PGA Tour's most prized assets.
Greg Norman and co were able to lure world No. 3 and current Masters champion, Rahm to the fold, but it came at a price with the Spaniard signing a deal worth a reported £450 million.
READ MORE: Jon Rahm suffers potential blow as rumoured LIV team-mate commits to DP World Tour
Part of the deal will see Rahm take charge of his own LIV franchise, and become the 13th captain on the circuit alongside the likes of Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson. With his debut less than four weeks away though, there is yet to be any movement on the Spaniard's team.
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When approached by Mirror Sport, LIV confirmed that an announcement on Rahm's plans and teammates would come in 'due course', but there is no doubt the Masters champion will be hoping things will be done sooner rather than later with LIV Mayakoba right around the corner.
In late December it was reported by Spanish outlet Relevo reported that Rahm was set to bring fellow countryman Adri Arnaus as his LIV signing first signing. Doubt has since been cast on this deal though, with Arnaus committing to play in the DP World Tour's opening three of the events in January.
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Jon Rahm made the move to LIV Golf last month (Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)Arnaus is included on the entry list of the season opener at the Dubai Invitational, as well as the Dubai Desert Classic a week later. Per the DP World Tour star's website, he will also tee it up at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship, which takes place just days before the start of LIV's season in Mexico.
Rahm will not be the only LIV star with his eye on the clock though. In total, a quarter of the 12 LIV teams that competed on the circuit last year are yet to complete their rosters in 2024. Former Open champion Cam Smith is one captain on the look out for new blood, with two spots free on his Ripper GC team.
The all-Australian outfit lost Jediah Morgan for 2024 due to relegation, whilst Matt Jones currently finds himself in free agency after finishing 37th in 2023. Cleeks GC skipper Martin Kaymer also faces the same issue, with Graeme McDowell switching to Brooks Koepka's Smash and Bernd Wiesberger returning to the DP World Tour.
Elsewhere, Kevin Na and the Ironheads also have one spot free, and will be looking to add one more name to their roster in the coming weeks. There are three LIV stars who are currently without a team, after Kalle Samooja, Jinichiro Kozuma and Kieran Vincent all earned a place for 2024 via LIV Promotions.
As things stand there are five vacant spots across the current 12 teams. Three will of course be filled by Samooja, Kozuma and Vincent leaving two free. In theory Rahm's plans to build his own franchise could well be put on hold, and he could take up a fourth spot, leaving a fifth free for one remaining player.
Rahm is expected to be handed a captaincy role, and this could come via a vacant spot on the Cleeks, with Kaymer not a contracted skipper with the league. There are endless amounts of potential outcomes, but there is no doubt it will all come to fruition in the coming weeks.