Jon Rahm has accused the DP World Tour of extortion. Now, they could be his solely hope.
Although LIV Golf is desperately searching for to avoid wasting itself within the wake of Saudi Arabia pulling its billions in funding, the top appears to be close to.
And the PGA Tour is probably not welcoming its former stars again with open arms.
Whereas Golf Digest studies {that a} path again to the PGA Tour will exist for LIV gamers, it received’t be by means of the Returning Member Program that allowed Brooks Koepka to return.
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“The scenario is completely different now,” a supply instructed Golf Digest.
Rahm, 31, joined LIV Golf in late 2023 on a reported $US300 million ($A415m) contract after beforehand publicly taking pictures down rumors linking him to the transfer.
The 2-time main champion has desired to proceed taking part in DP World Tour occasions whereas remaining with LIV Golf, one thing he must do to be Ryder Cup eligible.
However the DP World Tour desires him to play in six occasions and dictate two of these occasions.
“I don’t know what sport they’re making an attempt to play proper now, however it simply looks as if in a approach they’re utilizing our affect in tournaments and fining us and making an attempt to learn each methods from what we’ve to supply,” Rahm mentioned in March. “[It’s] simply in a approach they’re extorting gamers like [me] and younger gamers that don’t have anything to do with the politics of the sport.
“So, I don’t just like the scenario and I’m not going to comply with that.”
However Rahm could haven’t any alternative however to comply with regardless of the DP World Tour desires if LIV Golf goes underneath.
Rahm bolting for LIV got here a number of months after LIV and the PGA Tour introduced a framework settlement to hitch forces that by no means ended up materializing.
When Rahm made the transfer, the PGA Tour was “caught flat-footed,” per Golf Digest.
Rahm, alongside Bryson DeChambeau and Cam Smith, then had the chance to take the identical path again that Koepka did — and opted to not observe by means of.
“We’re focused on having the very best gamers who will help our tour,” Rolapp instructed The Wall Road Journal. “Not each participant can do this.”
Whereas Rahm definitely suits that definition, lingering resentment might make the method painful.
Gamers who joined the antitrust lawsuit in opposition to the PGA Tour, like Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson, will face “further scrutiny,” the report mentioned.