Greg Norman spruiked his cellphone was operating scorching with requests to hitch LIV Golf when he landed the mega-signing of Jon Rahm after months of hypothesis.
But it surely took a last-minute name from England’s Ryder Cup star Tyrrell Hatton simply to provide Rahm a single worthy teammate for his newly confirmed Legion XIII line-up, with the ultimate rosters for the brand new season that begins on Friday underwhelming at finest.
“I do know my cellphone is blowing up,” Norman stated after Rahm inked his deal for a reported $566m.
“I believe phrase is getting on the market amongst all of the gamers all over the world, even the highest gamers, the most effective gamers on this planet.”
However as Hatton’s transfer was confirmed, Justin Thomas, who stayed loyal to the PGA Tour amid fixed noise round a number of potential top-line recruits, was blunt sufficient to declare Norman and LIV “haven’t gotten something shut” to what was predicted.
In confirming Hatton’s place on the 2024 LIV rosters, and in Rahm’s group, Norman once more jumped on the hype machine, pumping up former novice star Caleb Surratt and Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent, who got here by way of the inaugural promotion match.
“I’m thrilled to welcome his new teammates, Ryder Cup star Tyrrell Hatton and younger gun Caleb Surratt, together with LIV Golf Promotions standout Kieran Vincent, who will undoubtedly be nice additions to the league,” he stated.
“That is one other thrilling second within the pure evolution of LIV Golf and the long run for the game.”
For his half, Rahm stated he was pleased with the “model” his new group was constructing and he needed to “battle alongside a bunch of men who aligned completely with what the group stands for”.
However whereas he labelled Hatton a “fierce competitor, confirmed champion”, the most effective he may provide you with for Vincent was that he’s a “regular, proficient ball striker”, hardly an endorsement to tug any further eyeballs to the 14-event season.
Bulletins confirming the signing of Australian Lucas Herbert to Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC group and 2022 Australian Open champ Adrian Meronk are anticipated to come back late on Wednesday forward of the opening spherical of the primary occasion in Mexico.
However whereas Rahm was an enormous get, the trio of Hatton, Herbert and Meronk as the important thing signings for LIV’s third 12 months left Thomas feeling just like the plan had fallen properly brief.
“Yeah, a minimum of from what Greg stated, they haven’t gotten something near what he’s type of stated,” he stated.
“It seemed like they had been going to signal 10 or 15 folks this nevertheless many months and haven’t.
“Clearly, I’m bummed (Hatton signed) and I want he wasn’t, however it’s not like I’m going to name him and provides him some spiel about how he shouldn’t.
“I hope he’s performed his homework and analysis and feels it’s the most effective resolution, however it’s what it’s I assume.”
Totally shopping for into the idea of a group identify and model, Rahm stated the inspiration was drawn from the good Roman legions.
“I needed to go down the warrior spirit mythology aspect for the group’s identify,” Rahm stated.
“The time period loyalty is essential for me – I believe it embodies the warrior spirit by way of its decisiveness and ready-for-battle mindset. Through the Roman Empire, there was the enduring Legion XIII Gemina in Caesar’s military. They believed within the credo of trustworthy loyalty.”
The opening LIV occasion begins on Friday at Mayakoba.