5 PGA Tour stars who turned down LIV Golf as Jon Rahm's teammate hunt continues
With less than two weeks to go until the first LIV Golf event of 2024, latest marque signing Jon Rahm is yet to announce his team name and teammates for the opener at Mayakoba.
Rahm wrote himself into the history books last month, after becoming the Saudi-backed league's biggest signing yet. The Masters champion signed a deal worth a reported £450 million, in what proved to be a huge loss for their PGA Tour rivals.
But with time ticking towards the beginning of LIV's second full campaign, golf fans are none the wiser as to who the Spaniard will be joined by for his maiden year with Greg Norman and co.
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Numerous reports have claimed the Spaniard's LIV franchise will be named Legion XIII, with recently promoted Kieran Vincent rumoured to be joining him. Rahm's move was expected to turn the tide in bringing in a second wave of PGA Tour stars, but as of yet nobody has followed him.
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While a whole host of big names have been approached to make the Saudi switch for 2024, none are yet to follow in the two-time major champion's footsteps. From PGA Tour stalwarts, to some of Rahm's Ryder Cup teammates, here is a look at who has turned a mega-money offer down for the 2024 season.
Tommy Fleetwood
One man who will not be teaming up with Rahm this year is fellow European Tommy Fleetwood. According to a Telegraph report on Friday, Fleetwood was the latest to have been approached by the breakaway league, but opted to reject the offer.
The Englishman kicked off his DP World Tour season at the Dubai Invitational last week, winning the event by one shot ahead of Rory McIlroy. With Fleetwood saying no, the Saudi-backed league has allegedly turned to his fellow countryman and Rahm's ex-Ryder Cup partner Tyrrell Hatton.
Tommy Fleetwood turned down the chance to join LIV GolfNicolai Hojgaard
The report also claimed that another Ryder Cup teammate in Nicolai Hojgaard was also offered the chance to team up with Rahm, but like Fleetwood opted to turn it down. Hojgaard has announced himself as one of golf's hottest prospects alongside twin brother Rasmus, with three DP World Tour wins and a Ryder Cup victory on his CV at the age of 22.
Ludvig Aberg
Completing the Team Europe wish list is fellow wonder kid Ludvig Aberg. Like Hojgaard, the Swede has burst onto the scene, having only turned professional last June. In that time though Aberg has already landed wins on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, as well as playing his part in the Ryder Cup victory in Rome last October.
Having become one of golf's hottest prospects, the youngster was approached by the LIV setup on two occasions in 2023, but chose to reject the offers on both occasions. He told Eurosport: "There were a number of red flags, which is not good.
"We realised that I could potentially burn a lot of bridges, and I wasn't interested in that. When I look back, I am very confident in my decision. I will never chase money; what I do is compete. I did the right thing.”
Tony Finau
Tony Finau was backed to join Jon Rahm ((Photo by Maddie Meyer/PGA of America via Getty Images))One man who looked destined to team up with Rahm and LIV in the weeks after the Spaniard's switch was PGA Tour star Tony Finau. Competing at last month's Grant Thornton Invitational, Finau refuse to rule out making the Saudi switch amid the rumours.
He finally announced his decision days later though, pledging his loyalties to the PGA Tour. "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," he wrote on Instagram on December 11.
"Thank you to my partners for your continued support. Thank you to the fans for all the love for our whole Finau fam. See y'all in Maui! #imnotleaving." Finau has since teed it up at the Tour's season opener at The Sentry, as well as this week's American Express.
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Jason Day
Alongside Finau, former world No. 1 Jason Day was reportedly next on the league's hit list to join Rahm and his soon-to-be-launched team. With the help of CEO, Norman, the LIV setup has added a strong Australian contingency to its roster, making Day an obvious target.
Speculation has soon died down though, and the 36-year-old from Queensland has since pledged his playing commitments to the PGA Tour for a 15th straight year. The former PGA Champion kicked off 2024 with a top-10 finish at The Sentry, before entering this week's American Express in California.
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