With Jon Rahm’s recent signing by LIV Golf, the governing body’s commissioner believes more players could be joining the 2023 Master’s Champion soon
The foundation of the pro golfing world shifted a bit this past week when it was announced that 2023 Master’s Champion and former number-one ranked player in the world Jon Rahm had signed with Saudi-backed LIV Golf. This prompted an immediate response from the PGA Tour – who suspended him a day later. However, Rahm’s monumental decision has one golfing legend (who happens to be LIV’s commissioner) thinking some big names will be joining him soon.
PGA icon Greg Norman is now the CEO and Commissioner of LIV Golf. Following his league’s acquisition of one of the PGA Tour’s biggest names, The Shark said he wasn’t all that shocked by the news. In fact, he expressed the belief that this is just the start of something even bigger.
“I think word is getting out there amongst all the players around the world, even the top players, the best players in the world,” Norman told ESPN recently.
“I’ll be honest with you. Since [Rahm] signed, I know he’s been inundated by players saying, ‘I want to play on your team, Jon. How do I get on that?’ I have been inundated, and my other team members, too, [and] my C-suite within the organization.”
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I can tell you, hand on my heart, between eight and 12 guys for about two or three spots and maybe two spots, to be honest with you,” Norman stated. “It will create a domino effect, there will be more apples falling from the tree – no question about it, because LIV continues to develop.”
The money is certainly there for any prominent player looking to move to the LIV golf side of the earnings ledger. Rahm’s deal is rumored to be around the $600 million mark.
Not lost in all this are the ongoing negotiations between LIV Golf and The Pro Golfer’s Association about a potential merger – one that was said to be in the works months ago. It has since passed its original October 9 deadline for an agreement and is also being examined by the US Justice Department regarding concerns it could violate antitrust laws. If completed, the deal would link the PGA Tour with LIV and the Euro Tour as one entity. However, negotiations have been slow and no deal has been finalized yet.
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