Rely Sergio Garcia amongst these grateful that Jon Rahm signed with LIV Golf, even when they’re on opposing groups.
Garcia, the captain of Fireballs GC, welcomed his good friend and fellow Spaniard to LIV forward of the debut of Rahm and his crew, Legion XIII, on the season opener this week at Mayakoba.
“I believe it’s positively thrilling,” Garcia mentioned. “Anytime you may have a participant the standard of Jon in your league, it’s superb. We’re very grateful to have him right here.
“I believe it’s a terrific addition, not solely with him however with (teammate Tyrrell Hatton) and everybody that’s new within the league. I believe it’s good to see. It’s thrilling for everybody. We couldn’t be happier.”
Rahm left the PGA Tour to affix LIV in December on a deal reportedly in extra of $300 million. The reigning Masters champion is No. 3 on the earth rankings, marking the newest and largest splash by the Saudi PIF-backed golf league.
Garcia and Rahm developed a bond as countrymen and generational skills. They’ve teamed up for the European Ryder Cup squad, and when Garcia’s transfer to LIV precluded him from enjoying within the Ryder Cup in 2023, Rahm was vocal in his assist for Garcia.
Upon including a thirteenth crew to accommodate Rahm, LIV can have fields of 54 gamers to match their 54 holes — 13 groups of 4 and two unaffiliated “wild playing cards” in every occasion.
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“I believe the league is getting stronger, like Sergio mentioned, and it’s enjoyable,” Garcia’s Fireballs teammate Eugenio Chacarra of Spain mentioned. “I believe we really feel fairly good, and the extra gamers and the extra high quality of gamers, I believe the more durable it’s, and for me as a younger man, the extra I can study from them and get my sport prepared for the long run, it’s higher.”
Garcia had extra causes to smile, as final week the Spanish broadcaster Movistar introduced an settlement to indicate LIV’s occasions on its streaming platform, Movistar Plus+.
“I do know that the demand (from) the Spanish individuals, like clearly pals of mine that I do know and everybody was asking, ‘How can we watch it higher?’ and stuff like that,” Garcia mentioned. “I believe that everybody is tremendous, tremendous excited.”
Garcia’s crew is essentially the most Spanish-heavy, as he, Chacarra and fellow teenager David Puig are joined by Mexican professional Abraham Ancer. However earlier than the league crosses the ocean to compete on the famed Spanish course Actual Membership Valderrama in July, it’s opening in Mexico, the place the Latin American-heavy Torque GC might be a fan favourite.
“I believe what LIV is doing, it’s all about rising the sport, and I believe that’s what we’re doing right here,” mentioned Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz, who performed for Fireballs final season earlier than becoming a member of Torque.
“Mayakoba has been nice in doing that, having the (PGA Tour) event earlier than this and now persevering with with LIV, and we’re simply honored to be a part of that, I suppose, legacy or crew of individuals which are rising golf in Latin America.”