LIV Golf chief government Greg Norman says that Jon Rahm’s transfer to the Saudi-backed circuit will “create a domino impact” of extra high-profile gamers making the profitable soar.
Reigning Masters champion Rahm final week joined LIV in a deal value a whole lot of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in an enormous coup for the upstart tour.
LIV had already recruited main winners Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Cameron Smith, however Rahm was arguably the largest identify but to go away the PGA Tour.
Talking from Saudi Arabia to the BBC’s World Enterprise Report, the Australian Norman — the general public face of LIV — stated there could be “extra apples falling from the tree”.
“To have Jon on board is critically essential to our subsequent steps into the longer term and what we need to do,” Norman stated.
He added: “It is going to create a domino impact, there can be extra apples falling from the tree, there’s no query about it as a result of LIV continues to develop and develop.”
Spain’s Rahm had beforehand dominated out going to LIV, which held its inaugural season in 2022 and triggered a civil battle in golf.
He’s reportedly set to earn between $300-600 million.
“Since Jon signed, lower than every week in the past now, I do know my cellphone is blowing up. I do know we most likely have eight to 12 gamers who’re very, very eager to take a seat down and discuss to us about approaching board,” Norman added.
Saudi Arabia’s foray into sport has triggered accusations that it’s “sportswashing” its human rights report.
Norman, a two-time main winner, stated that Saudi Arabia “actually cares” about golf.
“Should you see the best way they’re embracing the sport of golf, they’re investing within the recreation of golf of their nation for his or her folks into the longer term,” he stated.
Rahm’s transfer got here because the PGA Tour and the Saudi backers of LIV try to finalise the small print of their bombshell merger introduced in June.
A deadline of December 31 has been set to agree a framework for the brand new PGA-LIV three way partnership.