The PGA Tour has notified Jon Rahm he has been suspended for signing with Saudi-funded LIV Golf, a formality that’s extra about the advantages to the gamers Rahm leaves behind.
Mackenzie Hughes and Carl Yuan are the quick beneficiaries of Rahm’s resolution final week to signal with the rival league.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, in a memo to gamers on Monday afternoon, mentioned Rahm’s suspension “as a result of his affiliation with a collection of unauthorized tournaments” removes his title from the FedEx Cup eligibility factors listing.
Meaning Hughes goes from No. 51 to No. 50, and now’s eligible for all seven of the 20 million USD signature occasions in 2024. It additionally means Yuan, who was signed up for Q-school this week, strikes up one spot to No. 125 and has a full PGA Tour card for subsequent 12 months.
READ | Masters champion Rahm joins LIV Golf
The tour final 12 months distinguished between the FedEx Cup standings and a separate listing associated to eligibility for the postseason and for standing. The excellence was so gamers defecting to LIV wouldn’t have a damaging influence on those that stayed behind.
Amongst those that benefited final 12 months had been Rickie Fowler, who acquired into the postseason due to all of the gamers who left for LIV; and Jimmy Walker and Rory Sabbatini, who moved up on the profession cash listing and had been ready to make use of one-time exemptions to maintain full standing.
This 12 months, Hughes narrowly missed out on the highest 50. He stored his 51st place by the autumn, which solely would have assured him spots within the first two $20 million occasions. Now the Canadian can depend on the likes of the Wells Fargo Championship in his residence residence of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Alex Smalley goes to the No. 60 spot and now’s assured of two 20 million USD occasions. The modifications additionally have an effect on Paul Haley, who strikes to No. 150 and now has no less than conditional standing.
And it may impact Sahith Theegala. He completed No. 31 to narrowly miss the Tour Championship. He strikes as much as No. 30, which may make him exempt for the U.S. Open. This 12 months, the U.S. Open acknowledged the highest 30 who had been eligible.
The actions had been allowed as a result of the brand new season has not began. If extra PGA Tour gamers go away for LIV earlier than the tip of the 12 months, that would result in extra modifications.
Social media had been buzzing about the opportunity of Tony Finau — he and Rahm are shut buddies — additionally leaving for LIV. Finau took to Instagram on Monday night time that recapped his 12 months and mentioned he was “trying ahead to taking part in my tenth season on the PGA Tour.”
“See y’all in Maui!” he concluded, including the hash tag, “imnotleaving.”
Monahan additionally mentioned within the memo that the coverage board and administration just lately met with a bunch of gamers upset that signature occasions will supply disproportionately extra FedEx Cup factors than the opposite occasions, resulting in considerations it is going to be tough for gamers outdoors the highest 50 to pretty compete.
Monahan mentioned the board will evaluation how the brand new system is working in June and consider whether or not modifications are to ensure that 2025.